apostasy : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: apostasy	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for apostasy
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
apostasy n the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes) Synonym(s): apostasy, renunciation, defection the act of abandoning a party for cause Synonym(s): apostasy, tergiversation
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Apostasy \Apos"tasy\, n.; pl. {Apostasies}. [OE. apostasie, F. apostasie, L. apostasia, fr. Gr. [?] a standing off from, a defection, fr. [?] to stand off, revolt; [?] from + [?] to stand. See {Off} and {Stand}.] An abandonment of what one has voluntarily professed; a total desertion of departure from one's faith, principles, or party; esp., the renunciation of a religious faith; as, Julian's apostasy from Christianity.