The Collaborative International Dictionary
Apostatize \A*pos"ta*tize\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Apostatized; p. pr. & vb. n. Apostatizing.] [LL. apostatizare.] To renounce totally a religious belief once professed; to forsake one's church, the faith or principles once held, or the party to which one has previously adhered.
He apostatized from his old faith in facts, took to
believing in ?emblances.
--Carlyle.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1610s, from Late Latin apostatizare, earlier apostatare, from apostata (see apostate). Related: Apostatized; apostatizing. The past participle form apostazied is attested from late 14c.
Wiktionary
alt. To give up or renounce one's position or belief. vb. To give up or renounce one's position or belief.
WordNet
v. abandon one's beliefs or allegiances [syn: apostatise, tergiversate]
Usage examples of "apostatize".
Jose Barreda, the Father Provincial of the missions, in a curious letter under date of August 2nd, 1753, tells the Marquis of Valdelirios that he fears not only that the 30,000 Indians resident in the seven towns may rebel, but that they may be joined by the Indians of the other reductions, and that it is possible they may all apostatize and return to the woods.
The weight of his body dragged him down, but he still would not recant or apostatize his faith.
Surely, if we read the history of this Cause aright, we cannot fail to observe that the East has already witnessed not a few of its sons, of wider experience, of a higher standing, of a greater influence, apostatize their faith, find themselves to their utter consternation lose whatsoever talent they possessed, recede swiftly into the shadows of oblivion and be heard of no more.
Medina apostatized from their Faith, turning back to the idolatry of pagan times.
But on the day that you apostatized I would no longer continue my humiliating sacrifice.
The first is the view of some of the Manichean teachers, that spirits were embodied by a hostile violence and cunning, the force and fraud of the apostatized Devil.
Some writers of ability and eminence have tried to maintain that the Johannean conception of Satan was of some exalted archangel who apostatized from the law of God and fell from heaven into the abyss of night, sin, and woe.
Portuguese priest, Christovao Ferreira, who apostatized at Nagasaki in 1633.
But the same could not be said of the English nation, which had in his view most foully apostatized from its pure creed, and most perfidiously betrayed the high commission it had received from Heaven.
Above all, take heed of apostatizing from, or an utter desertion of, this covenant.
She promised children to him, and obvious she forgot that promise just like she apostatized of his married votes.