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In one of the more powerful sequences, three older men are hung from crosses positioned deep in the ocean’s waters — the thrashing waves killing them slowly for their refusal to apostatize.—Lindsey Bahr, Orange County Register, 6 Jan. 2017 The conundrum is one that has nothing to do with Rodrigues’ decision whether to lay down his life, but with his reluctance to apostatize, even in the face of others’ deaths.—Michael O'Sullivan, The Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2017 Savannah's mom left the church in 2015, when leaked official documents confirmed their policy of apostatizing same-sex couples.—Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 20 June 2017
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Medieval Latin apostatizāre, variant (with -izāre-ize) of Late Latin apostatāre, verbal derivative of apostata "rebel against God, apostate"
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