a. and sb. Also 5–7 -ique, 6–7 -ike, 7 -ick. [a. Fr. apostolique, ad. L. apostolicus, a. Gr. ἀποστολικός, f. ἀπόστολος: see APOSTLE and -IC.]
A. adj.
1. Of or belonging to the Apostles; contemporary with the Apostles, as the Apostolic Fathers.
1549. Nicene Creed, in Bk. Com. Prayer. One Catholick and Apostolike Church.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. ii. (1636), 62. St. Matthew, and other Apostolike men.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., xvi. 58. Idolatry is as contrary to the Apostolick Doctrine, as any thing can be.
1818. Byron, Childe Har., IV. cx. And apostolic statues climb To crush the imperial urn.
1847. Yeowell, Anc. Brit. Ch., iii. 23. The British church was founded during the apostolic age.
2. Of the nature or character of the Apostles; befitting or suited to an apostle.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Paraphr., 1 Cor. xi. 7. Is it not an apostolique act to bring Corinthe … to Christes gospell?
1781. Cowper, Hope, 583. His apostolic charity.
1839. De Quincey, Recoll. Lakes, Wks. II. 183. Illimitable, apostolic devotion to the service of the poor.
3. Of or pertaining to the pope as successor of St. Peter; papal.
1477. Caxton, Dictes, 145. Defendour and directour of the siege apostolique.
1591. Troub. Raigne K. John (1611), 42. I Pandulph of Padua, Legate from the Apostolike See.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), II. xiv. 323. Made dependent on the Apostolic See alone.
B. sb. A heretical sect. (See quot.)
1580. Fulke, Retentive, 314 (T.). The Apostoliks in their vowe of continence.
1645. Pagitt, Heresiogr. (1661), 36. Apostolicks, a kind of Anabaptists, because they would be like the Apostle, they wandred up and down the Countreys, without staves, shooes, money, or bags.
1751. [See APOSTLE 3].
