n. 1 (Apostle) a any of the chosen twelve sent out to preach the Christian Gospel. b the first successful Christian missionary in a country or to a people. 2 a leader or outstanding figure, esp. of a reform movement (apostle of temperance). 3 a messenger or representative. apostle-bird any of various Australian birds, forming flocks of about a dozen. Apostles' Creed an early form of the Christian creed, ascribed to the Apostles. apostleship n.
[ OE apostol f. eccl.L apostolus f. Gk apostolos messenger (as APO-, stello send forth) ]