n.; pl. Apostasies [ OE. apostasie, F. apostasie, L. apostasia, fr. Gr. &unr_; a standing off from, a defection, fr. &unr_; to stand off, revolt; &unr_; from + &unr_; to stand. See Off and Stand. ] An abandonment of what one has voluntarily professed; a total desertion of departure from one's faith, principles, or party; esp., the renunciation of a religious faith; as, Julian's apostasy from Christianity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. apostata, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_;. See Apostasy. ] 1. One who has forsaken the faith, principles, or party, to which he before adhered; esp., one who has forsaken his religion for another; a pervert; a renegade. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (R. C. Ch.) One who, after having received sacred orders, renounces his clerical profession. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, apostasy; faithless to moral allegiance; renegade. [ 1913 Webster ]

So spake the apostate angel. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wretched and apostate state. Steele. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. apostatare. ] To apostatize. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We are not of them which apostate from Christ. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. apostaticus, Gr. &unr_;. ] Apostatical. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Apostate. [ 1913 Webster ]

An heretical and apostatical church. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Apostatized p. pr. & vb. n. Apostatizing. ] [ LL. apostatizare. ] To renounce totally a religious belief once professed; to forsake one's church, the faith or principles once held, or the party to which one has previously adhered. [ 1913 Webster ]

He apostatized from his old faith in facts, took to believing in &unr_;emblances. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ See Aposteme. ] To form an abscess; to swell and fill with pus. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. apostematio: cf. F. apostémation. ] (Med.) The formation of an aposteme; the process of suppuration. [ Written corruptly imposthumation. ] Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or partaking of the nature of, an aposteme. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. apostema, Gr. &unr_; the separation of corrupt matter into an ulcer, fr. &unr_; to stand off: cf. F. apostème. See Apostasy. ] (Med.) An abscess; a swelling filled with purulent matter. [ Written corruptly imposthume. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L. a (ab) + posterior latter. ] 1. (Logic) Characterizing that kind of reasoning which derives propositions from the observation of facts, or by generalizations from facts arrives at principles and definitions, or infers causes from effects. This is the reverse of a priori reasoning. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Philos.) Applied to knowledge which is based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; inductive or empirical. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. apostille. See Postil. ] A marginal note on a letter or other paper; an annotation. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. apostle, apostel, postle, AS. apostol, L. apostolus, fr. Gr. &unr_; messenger, one sent forth or away, fr. &unr_; to send off or away; &unr_; from + &unr_; to send; akin to G. stellen to set, E. stall: cf. F. apôtre, Of. apostre, apostle, apostele, apostole. ] 1. Literally: One sent forth; a messenger. Specifically: One of the twelve disciples of Christ, specially chosen as his companions and witnesses, and sent forth to preach the gospel. [ 1913 Webster ]

He called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles. Luke vi. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The title of apostle is also applied to others, who, though not of the number of the Twelve, yet were equal with them in office and dignity; as, “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. i. 1. In Heb. iii. 1, the name is given to Christ himself, as having been sent from heaven to publish the gospel. In the primitive church, other ministers were called apostles (Rom. xvi. 7). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The missionary who first plants the Christian faith in any part of the world; also, one who initiates any great moral reform, or first advocates any important belief; one who has extraordinary success as a missionary or reformer; as, Dionysius of Corinth is called the apostle of France, John Eliot the apostle to the Indians, Theobald Mathew the apostle of temperance. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Civ. & Admiralty Law) A brief letter dimissory sent by a court appealed from to the superior court, stating the case, etc.; a paper sent up on appeals in the admiralty courts. Wharton. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Apostles' creed, a creed of unknown origin, which was formerly ascribed to the apostles. It certainly dates back to the beginning of the sixth century, and some assert that it can be found in the writings of Ambrose in the fourth century. --
Apostle spoon (Antiq.), a spoon of silver, with the handle terminating in the figure of an apostle. One or more were offered by sponsors at baptism as a present to the godchild. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office or dignity of an apostle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. apostolatus, fr. apostolus. See Apostle. ] 1. The dignity, office, or mission, of an apostle; apostleship. [ 1913 Webster ]

Judas had miscarried and lost his apostolate. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The dignity or office of the pope, as the holder of the apostolic see. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. apostolicus. ] (Eccl. Hist.) A member of one of certain ascetic sects which at various times professed to imitate the practice of the apostles. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. apostolicus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. apostolique. ] 1. Pertaining to an apostle, or to the apostles, their times, or their peculiar spirit; as, an apostolical mission; the apostolic age. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. According to the doctrines of the apostles; delivered or taught by the apostles; as, apostolic faith or practice. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of or pertaining to the pope or the papacy; papal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Apostolical brief. See under Brief. --
Apostolic canons, a collection of rules and precepts relating to the duty of Christians, and particularly to the ceremonies and discipline of the church in the second and third centuries. --
Apostolic church, the Christian church; -- so called on account of its apostolic foundation, doctrine, and order. The churches of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem were called apostolic churches. --
Apostolic constitutions, directions of a nature similar to the apostolic canons, and perhaps compiled by the same authors or author. --
Apostolic fathers, early Christian writers, who were born in the first century, and thus touched on the age of the apostles. They were Polycarp, Clement, Ignatius, and Hermas; to these Barnabas has sometimes been added. --
Apostolic king (or
majesty), a title granted by the pope to the kings of Hungary on account of the extensive propagation of Christianity by St. Stephen, the founder of the royal line. It is now a title of the emperor of Austria in right of the throne of Hungary. --
Apostolic see, a see founded and governed by an apostle; specifically, the Church of Rome; -- so called because, in the Roman Catholic belief, the pope is the successor of St. Peter, the prince of the apostles, and the only apostle who has successors in the apostolic office. --
Apostolical succession, the regular and uninterrupted transmission of ministerial authority by a succession of bishops from the apostles to any subsequent period. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an apostolic manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Apostolicity. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (R. C. Ch.) The diplomatic agent of the pope highest in grade, superior to a nuncio. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ } n. The state or quality of being apostolical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ (1) L., fr. Gr. &unr_; a turning away, fr. &unr_; to turn away; &unr_; from + &unr_; to turn. (2) F., fr. L. apostrophus apostrophe, the turning away or omitting of a letter, Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. (Rhet.) A figure of speech by which the orator or writer suddenly breaks off from the previous method of his discourse, and addresses, in the second person, some person or thing, absent or present; as, Milton's apostrophe to Light at the beginning of the third book of “Paradise Lost.” [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gram.) The contraction of a word by the omission of a letter or letters, which omission is marked by the character [ ' ] placed where the letter or letters would have been; as, call'd for called. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The mark [ ' ] used to denote that a word is contracted (as in ne'er for never, can't for can not), and as a sign of the possessive, singular and plural; as, a boy's hat, boys' hats. In the latter use it originally marked the omission of the letter e. [ 1913 Webster ]

The apostrophe is used to mark the plural of figures and letters; as, two 10's and three a's. It is also employed to mark the close of a quotation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to an apostrophe, grammatical or rhetorical. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t., [ imp. & p. p. Apostrophized p. pr. & vb. n. Apostrophizing. ] 1. To address by apostrophe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To contract by omitting a letter or letters; also, to mark with an apostrophe (') or apostrophes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To use the rhetorical figure called apostrophe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Aposteme. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A post sunk in the ground to receive the bars closing a passage into a field. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One of the four standards that support a bedstead or the canopy over a bedstead. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anciently, a post or pin on each side of the bed to keep the clothes from falling off. See Bedstaff. Brewer. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. One whose occupation is to post handbills or posters in public places. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Elec.) A metallic post attached to electrical apparatus for convenience in making connections. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Carp.) A beam that goes across a building. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. compost, fr. L. compositus, p. p. See Composite. ] 1. A mixture; a compound. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A sad compost of more bitter than sweet. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Agric.) A mixture for fertilizing land; esp., a composition of various substances (as muck, mold, lime, and stable manure) thoroughly mingled and decomposed, as in a compost heap. [ 1913 Webster ]

And do not spread the compost on the weeds
To make them ranker. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To manure with compost. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mingle, as different fertilizing substances, in a mass where they will decompose and form into a compost. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. compositura, -postura, a joining. ] Manure; compost. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Mil.) An outpost consisting of four men, forming one of a single line of posts substituted for the more formal line of sentinels and line of pickets. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. Same as King-post. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To eject from a post; to displace. [ R. ] Davies (Holy Roode). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The jamb or sidepiece of a doorway. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ or ‖. [ L., from what is done afterwards. ] (Law) From or by an after act, or thing done afterward; in consequence of a subsequent act; retrospective.

Ex post facto law, a law which operates by after enactment. The phrase is popularly applied to any law, civil or criminal, which is enacted with a retrospective effect, and with intention to produce that effect; but in its true application, as employed in American law, it relates only to crimes, and signifies a law which retroacts, by way of criminal punishment, upon that which was not a crime before its passage, or which raises the grade of an offense, or renders an act punishable in a more severe manner that it was when committed. Ex post facto laws are held to be contrary to the fundamental principles of a free government, and the States are prohibited from passing such laws by the Constitution of the United States. Burrill. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Expostulated p. pr. & vb. n. Expostulating. ] [ L. expostulatus, p. p. of expostulare to demand vehemently; ex out + postulare to ask, require. See Postulate. ] To reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of his conduct, representing the wrong he has done or intends, and urging him to make redress or to desist; to remonstrate; -- followed by with. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men expostulate with erring friends; they bring accusations against enemies who have done them a wrong. Jowett (Thuc. ).

Syn. -- To remonstrate; reason. See Remonstrate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To discuss; to examine. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. expostulatio. ] The act of expostulating or reasoning with a person in opposition to some impropriety of conduct; remonstrance; earnest and kindly protest; dissuasion. [ 1913 Webster ]

We must use expostulation kindly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who expostulates. Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing expostulation or remonstrance; as, an expostulatory discourse or letter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Imposture. ] Exposure. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a guidepost resembling a hand with a pointing index finger.
Syn. -- fingerboard. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A large bedstead with tall posts at the corners to support a canopy or curtains. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A post to which a gate is hung; -- called also swinging post or hinging post. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A post against which a gate closes; -- called also shutting post. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Sport) One of two posts supporting a crossbar which forms a goal{ 3 }, especially in American football; also, in football the entire structure consisting of the posts, crossbar, and two uprights. To score a goal by kicking the football, the ball must pass above the crossbar and between the vertical lines formed by the uprights. [ PJC ]