apostasy, apostate - vocabulary


  edgood  —  Grammar Tips

apostasy, apostate - noun

Apostasy: a total departure from one’s religious, political, or personal beliefs and principles.

Apostate: a person who forsakes his or her religious, political, or personal beliefs and principles.

Note: Apostate can also be used as an adjective to mean not faithful to one’s religious, political, or personal beliefs and principles.
Mr. Rahman, [who converted to Christianity], stands accused of apostasy, or ridda, the act of renouncing one's faith. Apostasy is a grave sin in Islam, and according to classical Shariah, it warrants a punishment of execution. But Islamic laws, including those governing the treatment of apostates, were developed as early as the eighth century against a vastly different political and social backdrop.

—Andrea Elliott “In Kabul, a Test for Shariah” New York Times, March 26, 2006
Note: You may download the Grammar eBook Build Your Vocabulary and get all 406 vocabulary words.

 

Next Word: arrogate Previous Word: approbation

© Grammar.com