APOSTLE

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Old English; Anglo-French ~ & Old English apostol, both from Late Latin apostolus, from Greek apostolos, from apostellein to send away, from apo- + stellein to send Date: before 12th century one sent on a mission: as, one of an authoritative New Testament group sent out to preach the gospel and made up especially of Christ's 12 original disciples and Paul, the first prominent Christian missionary to a region or group, 2. a person who initiates a great moral reform or who first advocates an important belief or system, an ardent supporter ; adherent , the highest ecclesiastical official in some church organizations, one of a Mormon administrative council of 12 men, ~ship noun