Where does “apostle” come from?
Apostle comes from Old French apostle, from Late Latin apostolus, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος, derived from ἀποστέλλω meaning to send away, from ἀπό and ultimately Proto-Indo-European h₂epo.
apostle (English): A missionary, or leader of a religious mission,...
Definitions
- A missionary, or leader of a religious mission,...
Ancestry of “apostle”, step by step
apostle traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English apostle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | apostle | — |
| 2 | Old French | apostle | apostle |
| 3 | Latin | apostolus | a notice sent to a higher tribunal or judge;... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἀπόστολος | one who is sent; messenger, envoy, ambassador;... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἀποστέλλω | to send off, send away from; to send off,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἀπο- | Indicating movement: away, from, off; Indicating... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἀπό | from, away from; because of, as a result of |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | Ἥλιος | sun |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | τύπος | A blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,... |
| 10 | Ancient Greek | τύπτω | to beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tewp- | to push, to stick |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tew- | to push, to hit |