adj. & n.
--adj.
1. regretfully acknowledging or excusing an offence or failure.
2 diffident.
3 of reasoned defence or vindication.
--n. (usu. in pl.) a reasoned defence, esp. of Christianity.
Derivatives:
apologetically adv.
Etymology: F apolog{eacute}tique f. LL apologeticus f. Gk apologetikos f. apologeomai speak in defence