apostle

plural apostles

1. A missionary, or leader of a religious mission, especially one in the early Christian Church (but see Apostle).
2. A pioneer or early advocate of a particular cause, prophet of a belief.

   1 more example

   [W]e must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its own inferior races. The Tasmanians, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?

   1895–1897, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “The Eve of the War”, in The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, published 1898, →OCLC, book I (The Coming of the Martians), pages 4–5

3. A top-ranking ecclesiastical official in the twelve seat administrative council of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
4. obsoleteCambridge slangA person who is plucked, that is, refused an academic degree.

plural apostles

1. lawA letter dismissory.
2. lawA note sent to an appeals court presenting the appeal in summary.
3. lawThe trial court record sent to an appeal court concerning an appeal.

plural Apostles

1. ChristianityAny of the group of twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to preach and spread the Gospel.

   Synonyms: Disciple

2. A top-ranking ecclesiastical official in the twelve-seat Mormon administrative council.

1. A transliteration of the Greek male given name Απόστολος (Apóstolos). A rare transcription; usually transliterated as Apostolos.