evangelize

Alternative forms

• evangelise (not US)

Etymology

From Old French évangéliser, equivalent to evangel +‎ -ize, from Late Latin evangelizare, from Ancient Greek εὐαγγελίζω (euangelízō). Displaced native Old English godspellian (literally “to gospel”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈvænd͡ʒəlaɪz/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Verb

evangelize (third-person singular simple present evangelizes, present participle evangelizing, simple past and past participle evangelized)

1. To tell people about (a particular branch of) Christianity, especially in order to convert them; to preach the gospel to.

   Hypernym: proselytize

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 1389–1390:

     his Apoſtles, whom he ſends To evangelize the Nations

2. To preach any ideology to those who have not yet been converted to it.

   Coordinate term: proselytize

   • 2002, Ergun Mehmet Caner, Emir Fethi Caner, Unveiling Islam: An Insider's Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs, page 11:

     […] nor is it the task of the Muslim to "evangelize" the unbelieving world.

3. To be enthusiastic about something, and to attempt to share that enthusiasm with others; to promote.

Verb

evangelize

1. inflection of evangelizar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative