apologetic

See also: apologètic

English

Alternative forms

• apologetick

Etymology

From French apologétique, from Latin apologēticus, from Ancient Greek ἀπολογητικός (apologētikós, “of or suitable for defense”), from ἀπολογέομαι (apologéomai, “to speak in defense of”); see more at English apology.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /əˌpɒləˈdʒɛtɪk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˌpɑləˈd͡ʒɛtɪk/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: apolo‧get‧ic

Adjective

apologetic (comparative more apologetic, superlative most apologetic)

1. Having the character of apology; regretfully excusing.

   His tone was apologetic as he explained what had happened.

   • 1890, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, The Sign of the Four, London: Spencer Blackett:

     Very different was he, however, from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood. His expression was downcast, and his bearing meek and even apologetic.

   • 1941 January, C. Hamilton Ellis, “The Scottish Station”, in Railway Magazine, page 3:

     Aberdeen Joint is a fine station. Its approach is a real approach, not an apologetic side-street; its granite building has a dignity in keeping with the famous city skyline it faces, [...].

   • 2020 December 9, Drachinifel, 20:18 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - Cape Esperance (IJN 1 : 2 USN)‎^[1], archived from the original on 4 December 2022:

     Scott, somewhat stunned and now worried that everybody might have opened fire at the U.S. destroyers (he presumably missed Laffey and Farenholt merrily blazing away with their own guns into the darkness), ordered all firing to cease after a couple of minutes. Helena, along with Boise, was already several hundred shells lighter, and both Boise and San Francisco herself actually kept firing, as their captains were utterly sure about their targets; San Francisco's captain was very apologetic as he overruled Admiral Scott.

2. (dated) Defending by words or arguments; said or written in defense.

Synonyms

• (having the character of an apology): sorry, remorseful; regretful

Derived terms

• apologetically
• apologetic apostrophe
• apologeticism
• apologeticness
• apologetic proverb
• nonapologetic
• pseudoapologetic
• semiapologetic
• unapologetic

 

Related terms

• apologetics
• apologia
• apologist
• apologize
• apology

Translations

having the character of apology

• Catalan: contrit
• Czech: omluvný
• Finnish: anteeksipyytävä
• French: apologétique (fr)
• German: entschuldigend (de), apologetisch (de), reumütig (de)
• Greek: απολογητικός (el) (apologitikós)

  Ancient Greek: ἀπολογητικός (apologētikós)

• Hungarian: bocsánatkérő (hu), mentegetőző
• Icelandic: afsakandi
• Japanese: 申し訳なさそうな (ja) (mōshiwake nasasō na)
• Norwegian: unnskyldende
• Polish: przepraszający, skruszony
• Portuguese: desculpante
• Russian: извиня́ющийся (ru) (izvinjájuščijsja)
• Spanish: disculpatorio, disculpable (es)

(dated) defending by words

• Catalan: apologètic
• Hungarian: apologetikus (hu), védelmező (hu), védő (hu)
• Polish: apologetyczny
• Spanish: apologético (es)

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French apologétique.

Adjective

apologetic m or n (feminine singular apologetică, masculine plural apologetici, feminine and neuter plural apologetice)

1. apologetic

Declension

Declension of apologetic

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative/ accusative	indefinite	apologetic		apologetică	apologetici	apologetice
	definite	apologeticul		apologetica	apologeticii	apologeticele
genitive/ dative	indefinite	apologetic		apologetice	apologetici	apologetice
	definite	apologeticului		apologeticei	apologeticilor	apologeticelor