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

Pertaining to, or characterized by, apostasy; faithless to moral allegiance; renegade. So spake the apostate angel. Milton. A wretched and apostate state. Steele.

Dangerous error, or schism, tending to draw persons to apostasy. Looking diligently, . . . lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you. Heb. xii. 15.

r duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding. "Defection and falling away from God." Sir W. Raleigh. The general defection of the whole realm. Sir J. Davies.

worse; decline; degradation; debasement; degeneracy; deterioration. Our degeneration and apostasy. Bates.

Lapse or declinsion from innocence or goodness. Specifically: The first apostasy; the act of our first parents in eating the forbidden fruit; also, the apostasy of the rebellious angels.

ld we have seen [Macbeth's] crimes darkening on their progress . . . could this gradatory apostasy have been shown us. A. Seward.

One of that class of Calvinists who consider the decree of election as contemplating the apostasy as past and the elect as being at the time of election in a fallen and guilty state; -- opposed to Supralapsarian. The former considered the election of grace as a remedy for an existing evil; the latter regarded the fall…

A fall or apostasy.

Indicating, or caused by, fear; as, timorous doubts. "The timorous apostasy of chuchmen." Milman. -- Tim"or*ous*ly, adv. -- Tim"or*ous*ness, n.