apostasy
(əˈpɒstəsɪ)
Also 6–9 apostacy.
[(? a. Fr. apostasie), ad. L. apostasia, a. later Gr. ἀποστασία = ἀπόστασις ‘standing off,’ hence, desertion of one's faith, f. ἀπο-στα- to stand off, withdraw.]
1. Abandonment or renunciation of one's religious faith or moral allegiance.
| c 1380 Wyclif De Dot. Eccl. Wks. 1871 III. 438 Apostasye þat goiþ evene aȝen þe ordre of Crist. 1395 Purvey Remonstr. (1851) 24 Apostasie, either goinge abak fro cristene feith. a 1520 Myrr. Our Ladye 194 They felle..in apostasye by idolatry, from the worshypynge of very god. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 44 Raphael..had forewarned Adam by dire example to beware Apostasie. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 85 The Canon Law defines Apostacy to be a rash and wilful Departure from that State of Faith, Obedience or Religion, which any Person has profess'd himself to hold in the Christian Church. 1852 C. M. Yonge Cameos (1877) I. xxix. 246 The rest had the choice of death or apostacy. 1876 Green Eng. People ix. §6. 655 The most devoted loyalists began to murmur, when James demanded apostasy as a proof of their loyalty. |
b. R.C. Ch. The action of quitting a religious order or renouncing vows without legal dispensation.
| 1532 More Confut. Barnes viii. Wks. 1557, 793/2 That freres may..breake their vowes, & runne in apostasy. 1877 Dowden Shaks. Prim. vi. 64 To charge with error their original vows of seclusion and to justify their present apostasy. |
2. By extension: The abandonment of principles or party generally.
| 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 47 Readier in the defence of it [wisdom] to haue made an Apologie, than any way to turne to Apostasie. 1660 Trial Regic. 36 To Doubt, or Hesitate, in a point of Allegiance, is direct Treason, and Apostasie. 1773 Mrs. Chapone Improv. Mind I. 192 Your apostacy from every good principle. 1838 Thirlwall Greece V. xl. 128 This however was not his last political apostasy. |