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Deserving to be adored; worthy of divine honors. The adorable Author of Christianity. Cheyne.

The love feast of the primitive Christians, being a meal partaken of in connection with the communion.

Nearly; well nigh; all but; for the greatest part. Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts xxvi. 28. Almost never, scarcely ever. -- Almost nothing, scarcely anything.

In the Christian church, a construction of stone, wood, or other material for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; the communion table.

A large pulpit or reading desk, in the early Christian churches. Gwilt.

A senior; an elder; a predecessor. [Obs.] Junius and Andronicus . . . in Christianity . . . were his ancients. Hooker.

y tenderness and angelic patience. Macaulay. Angelic Hymn, a very ancient hymn of the Christian Church; -- so called from its beginning with the song of the heavenly host recorded in Luke ii. 14. Eadie.

In the year of the Christian era; as, a. d. 1887.

Held or being before light; -- a word applied to assemblies of Christians, in ancient times of persecution, held before light in the morning. "Antelucan worship." De Quincey.

Of or in the Christian church or era, anterior to the first council of Nice, held a. d. 325; as, antenicene faith.

to make old in such a degree as to put out of use; hence, to make void, or abrogate. Christianity might reasonably introduce new laws, and antiquate or abrogate old one. Sir M. Hale.

One of a sect which opposes the observance of the Christian Sabbath.

Specif.: Certain writings which are received by some Christians as an authentic part of the Holy Scriptures, but are rejected by others.

ense of a faith, a cause, or an institution; especially, one who argues in defense of Christianity.

To defend. [Obs.] The Christians . . . were apologized by Plinie. Dr. G. Benson.

of what may be liable to disapprobation; justification; as, Tertullian's Apology for Christianity. It is not my intention to make an apology for my poem; some will think it needs no excuse, and others will receive none. Dryden.

es, or party; esp., the renunciation of a religious faith; as, Julian's apostasy from Christianity.

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 In…

ief. -- 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 c…

One of a sect of ancient Christians, who, in supposed imitation of the first believers, renounced all their possessions.