-_lə̇st noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French & Late Latin; Old French evangeliste, from Late Latin evangelista, from Greek euangelistēs, from euangelizesthai, euangelizein
1. usually capitalized : a writer of any of the four Gospels
2.
a. : a member of the primitive church who brought the first news of the gospel message, paving the way for the more systematic work of settled church officers : a traveling missionary or wandering teacher
b. : one who converts (as a nation) to Christianity : evangelizer , apostle
c. : an occasional preacher having no fixed charge : a traveling missionary: as
(1) : a minister of the Disciples of Christ who organizes church societies and sets churches and their officers in order
(2) : a minister or layman among various Protestant denominations who goes about from place to place preaching at special services to awaken religious interest : revivalist
3. : patriarch 4
4. : a person characterized by evangelical zeal for and earnest advocacy of any cause
a fervent evangelist for the mutual interests of labor and management — Time