a. and sb. Also 7 apologotique, apollogetick. [a. Fr. apologétique, ad. L. apologēticus, a. Gr. ἀπολογητικός fit for defence, f. ἀπολογέ-εσθαι to speak in defence: see APOLOGY.] A. adj.
1. Of the nature of a defence; vindicatory.
1649. (title) An Apologetic Declaration of the conscientious Presbyterians of the Province of London.
1724. A. Collins, Gr. Chr. Relig., 46. Many apologetick writings of the ancient Christians.
1875. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 9), s.v. Apologetics, Augustine’s … De Civitate Dei is apologetic in so far as it endeavours to show that Christianity and the church are the only ark of safety.
2. Regretfully acknowledging or excusing fault or failure.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. xviii. 170. Forced to speak in a subdued and apologetic tone.
1867. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 295. All manner of apologetic messages.
B. sb.
1. A formal apology for, or defence of, a person, doctrine, course of action, etc.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn. (1640), To Reader 1. The intended Apologetique … is not publish’d.
a. 1733. North, Lives, I. 335. That all, which did not then please, must be attributed to the Lord Keeper and not to him. A stately apologetic!
1751. Jortin, Eccl. Hist., I. 239. Tertullian, in his Apologetic, inveighs … against the inconsistency and absurdity of this.
2. pl. or collect. sing. The defensive method of argument; often spec. The argumentative defence of Christianity.
a. 1733. North, Lives (1826), II. 156. To drop these apologetics.
1834. Penny Cycl., II. 169/2. The science of apologetics … was unknown till the attacks of the adversaries of Christianity assumed a learned and scientific character.
1882. Athenæum, 25 Nov., 700/1. The kind of book … ‘the most rational of all’ in the way of Christian apologetic.
