WEBSTER’S
NEW TWENTIETH CENTURY
DICTIONARY
OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
UNABRIDGED (1965)
ap-os-tol’ic, ap-os-tol’ic-al
- Pertaining or relating to the apostles; as, the apostolic age.
- According to the doctrines of the apostles; delivered or taught by the apostles; as, apostolic faith or practice.
- Relating to the pope; as, the apostolic See.
- of an apostle.
- Apostolic Brothers; a sect of the thirteenth century led by Segarelli, a monk of northern Italy, in opposition to the pope.
- Apostolic Constitution and Cannons; a collection of regulations attributed to the apostles but generally supposed to be spurious. They appeared in the fourth century, are divided into eight books, and consist of rules and precepts relating to the duty of Christians, and particularly to the ceremonies and discipline of the church.
- Apostolic fathers; (a) the Christian writers who during any part of their lives were contemporary with the apostles. There are five – Clemont, Barnabas, Hermas, Ignatina, Polycarp.
- Apostolic king; a title granted by the pope to the kings of Hungary, first conferred on St. Stephen, the founder of the royal line of Hungary, on account of what he accomplished in the spread of Christianity.
- Apostolic see; the see of the popes or bishops of Rome; so called because the popes profess themselves the successors of Peter.
- Apostolic succession; the unbroken line of apostolics having direct authority to preach, holding such authority by regular ordination as well as by right of succession.
