apologetic

(ə päl′ə jet′ik)

adjective

Origin: Fr apologétique < LL(Ec) apologeticus < Gr apologētikos, suitable for defense < apologeisthai: see apology

noun

a formal defense, often written, of a belief, cause, etc.

Related Forms:

See apologetic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Offering or expressing an apology or excuse: an apologetic note; an apologetic smile.
Self-deprecating; humble: an apologetic manner.
Serving as or containing a formal justification or defense: an apologetic treatise on church doctrine.

noun

A formal defense or apology.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, formal defense

Origin: , from Latin apologēticus

Origin: , from Greek apologētikos, suitable for defense

Origin: , from apologeisthai, to defend oneself verbally

Origin: , from apologos, apology, story; see apologue

Related Forms:

Learn more about apologetic

apologetic synonyms

apologetic in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD