Apostle

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: a=pos=tle

CIDE DICTIONARY

Apostle, n. [OE. apostle, apostel, postle, AS. apostol, L. apostolus, fr. Gr. messenger, one sent forth or away, fr. to send off or away; from + to send; akin to G. stellen to set, E. stall: cf. F. apôtre, Of. apostre, apostle, apostele, apostole.].

•  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]

  " 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]

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

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Apostle, n.
1 (Apostle) a any of the chosen twelve sent out to preach the Christian Gospel. b the first successful Christian missionary in a country or to a people.
2 a leader or outstanding figure, esp. of a reform movement (apostle of temperance).
3 a messenger or representative.

Idiom

apostle-bird any of various Australian birds, forming flocks of about a dozen. Apostles' Creed an early form of the Christian creed, ascribed to the Apostles.

Derivative

apostleship n.

Etymology

OE apostol f. eccl.L apostolus f. Gk apostolos messenger (as APO-, stello send forth)

THESAURUS

Apostle

Aaronic priesthood, Ambrose of Milan, Athanasius, Barnabas, Basil, Clement of Alexandria, Clement of Rome, Cyprian of Carthage, Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory of Nyssa, Hermas, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Jerome, John, John Chrysostom, Justin Martyr, Lactantius Firmianus, Luke, Mark, Melchizedek priesthood, Origen, Papias, Paul, Peter, Polycarp, Seventy, Tertullian, ante-Nicene Fathers, bishop, colporteur, convert, converter, deacon, disciple, elder, evangelist, follower, high priest, missionary, missioner, patriarch, priest, propagandist, proselyte, proselyter, proselytizer, saint, teacher

ROGET THESAURUS

Apostle

Judeo-Christian Revelation

N Judeo-christian revelation, revelation, inspiration, afflatus, theophany, theopneusty, Word, Word of God, Scripture, the Scriptures, the Bible, Holy Writ, Holy Scriptures, inspired writings, Gospel, Old Testament, Septuagint, Vulgate, Pentateuch, Octateuch, the Law, the Jewish Law, the Prophets, major Prophets, minor Prophets, Hagiographa, Hagiology, Hierographa, Apocrypha, New Testament, Gospels, Evangelists, Acts, Epistles, Apocalypse, Revelations, Talmud, Mishna, Masorah, prophet, evangelist, apostle, disciple, saint, the Fathers, the Apostolical Fathers, Holy Men of old, inspired penmen, scriptural, biblical, sacred, prophetic, evangelical, evangelistic, apostolic, apostolical, inspired, theopneustic, theophneusted, apocalyptic, ecclesiastical, canonical, textuary.

Teacher

N teacher, trainer, instructor, institutor, master, tutor, director, Corypheus, dry nurse, coach, grinder, crammer, don, governor, bear leader, governess, duenna, disciplinarian, professor, lecturer, reader, prelector, prolocutor, preacher, chalk talker, khoja, pastor, schoolmaster, dominie, usher, pedagogue, abecedarian, schoolmistress, dame, monitor, pupil teacher, expositor, preceptor, guide, guru, mentor, pioneer, apostle, missionary, propagandist, munshi, example, professorship, tutelage, professorial, qui doet discet.

Learner

N learner, scholar, student, pupil, apprentice, prentice, journeyman, articled clerk, beginner, tyro, amateur, rank amateur, abecedarian, alphabetarian, alumnus, eleve, recruit, raw recruit, novice, neophyte, inceptor, catechumen, probationer, seminarian, chela, fellow-commoner, debutant, intern, resident, schoolboy, fresh, freshman, frosh, junior soph, junior, senior soph, senior, sophister, sophomore, questionist, undergraduate, graduate student, law student, medical student, pre-med, post-doctoral student, post-doc, matriculated student, part-time student, night student, auditor, class, grade, seminar, form, remove, pupilage, disciple, follower, apostle, proselyte, fellow-student, condisciple, school, in statu pupillari, in leading strings, practise makes perfect.