What does "apostate" mean?

Apostate: (R. C. Ch.) One who, after having received sacred orders, renounces his clerical profession.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Pertaining to, or characterized by, apostasy; faithless to moral allegiance; renegade. So spake the apostate angel. Milton. A wretched and apostate state. Steele.
  2. 3.To apostatize. [Obs.] We are not of them which apostate from Christ. Bp. Hall.

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