apostatize

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree English apostate Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English apostatize From apostate + -ize.

1. To give up or renounce one's position or belief.

   “Q. 15. May not a church so far apostatize by the neglect of discipline, as to cease to be a church of Christ, and become a synagogue of Satan? A. Yes. This has sometimes happened.”

   “Soft enticements of domestic life too often draw him from the ascetic trail; a monk who apostatizes to the world at times.”