late 14c., "renunciation, abandonment or neglect of established religion," from Late Latin apostasia, from later Greek apostasia for earlier apostasis "revolt, defection," literally "a standing off," from apostanai "to stand away" (see apostate (n.)). General (non-religious) sense "abandonment of what one has professed" is attested from 1570s.
apoplectic
apoplexy
aporetic
aporia
aposiopesis
apostasy
apostate
apostatise
apostatize
apostille
apostle