Middle English Dictionary Entry
apostasīe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | apostasīe n. |
| Etymology | ML apostasia, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Renunciation, abandonment, violation, or neglect of an established religious faith or one of its doctrines; fallen in ~, walken in ~.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.465 : For vile apostacie and despisynge of Crist, þei [the Templars] were destroyed in þe fifte pope clementes tyme.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)24 : Apostasie, either goinge abak fro cristene feith.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)18a/a : [Lucifer] loste liȝt and clerenes and..gat hym a fule derk schap of apostacye.
- a1400 Wycl.MPl.(Add 24202)53 : Pleyinge of myraclis benemeth men ther bileve in Crist..and so myraclis pleyinge is verre apostacye fro Crist.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Heb.10.39 : Wee forsoþe been not þe childre of þe withdrawyng or of apostasye in to perdicyoun.
- (1429) Proc.Privy C.3.332 : Suche [men]..wolde take benefice of þe saide Cruciat, rather for to walke in apostasie þan for desir of merite.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)407/585 : That I sholde forsake Cristes feith And falle falsly in tapostasie, Submytte my crowne..To cerymonyes of paganysmes lawe.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)98/58 : Þe synnes of dede er..brekyng of vowes, apostasy, dissolucioun in Goddes servys [etc.].
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.734 : Mercy, ihesu, graunte us noo more to falle..to swhiche apostacye.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)208/34 : Thre maners be of apostasye: of for-sakynge of feyth, of inobedyence, of irregularyte.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)412/3 : Þer was a blak monk þat fell in apostasye, & syne he was a Premonstracence & went oute.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)392 : To amortise seculer lordeschipis to þe state of þe clergi; þe whiche amortesynge is vndoynge of lordis & apostasie of þe clergy.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)24056 : I folwe, in myn Apostasye..the Ravenes condicioun, that whilom was of Noe sent out of the arke.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apost.(Dub 245)431 : Spek we of apostasye of prests.
2.
(a) Abandonment of holy orders without dispensation; (b) violation of a monastic regulation.
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.1481 : To al perfeccioun he did hymsilf applie, Til he wex weri of his professioun, Forsook his ordre bi apostacie.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.309 : Thei admitte not a man that hathe fallen in apostasy [Trev.: And apostata þat brekeþ his ordre; L apostatam].
b
- (1422) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.2381 : Forbedyng that the prioresse..yife no lycence too noon of hur sustres..to go to no..spectacles, and other worldly vanytees..under the which paynes of disobedyence and apostasye.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick350 : We enioyne yow, prioresse, vndere lyke peynes that..ye gare seke your sustere Anneys Butylere that is owte in apostasye, and bryng hire home to hire cloystere.