[apos.tle] n [ME, fr. OF & OE; OF apostle & OE apostol, both fr. LL apostolus, fr. Gk apostolos, fr. apostellein to send away, fr. apo- + stellein to send] (bef. 12c) 1: one sent on a mission: as a: one of an authoritative New Testament group sent out to preach the gospel and made up esp. of Christ's 12 original disciples and Paul b: the first prominent Christian missionary to a region or group
2. a: a person who initiates a great moral reform or who first advocates an important belief or system b: an ardent supporter: adherent "an ~ of liberty"
3: the highest ecclesiastical official in some church organizations
4: one of a Mormon administrative council of 12 men -- apos.tle.ship n