apostle English · revision 871

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈpɒs(ə)l/ ''(UK)''; /əˈpɑsl̩/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a fusion of [[inh|ang|apostol|t=messenger; disciple of Christ]] and [[inh|enm|apostle]], [[bor|fro|apostle]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) both from [[la-lat|apostolus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|ἀπόστολος|tr=apóstolos|t=messenger, envoy]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''apostéllein'' “to send away”, [[af|grc|ἀπό|στέλλω|tr1=apó|tr2=stéllō|t1=away|t2=to send]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One of the twelve witnesses whom Jesus sent out to preach the Gospel (c. 975);^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) the general sense of a messenger is also recorded in Old English.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The current form, dominant since the 16th century, was influenced by Old French.^(Etymonline) From the early 15th century the word meant a missionary who first brings Christianity to a region.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The figurative sense, the chief advocate of a new principle or leader of a reform, dates from 1810, as in ''the Apostle of Temperance''.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In the Mormon church an ''apostle'' is a member of the administrative council of twelve.^(AHD)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 950 – a messenger (Old English).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 975 – one of the Twelve Apostles.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1425 – the first missionary to a region.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1810 – the leader of a reform.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(often capitalized)'' One of the twelve [[disciple|alt=disciples]] chosen by Jesus to preach the [[gospel]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A missionary of the early Church, or the leader of the first Christian mission to a country.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person who pioneers an important reform, cause or belief; a passionate supporter.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # One of the twelve members of the governing council of the [[Mormon]] Church.^(AHD)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[apostlehood]]

+ * [[apostleship]]

+ * [[apostolate]]

+ * [[apostolic]]

+ * [[Apostles' Creed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[epistle]]

+ * [[disciple]]

+ * [[missionary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}