evangelist
UK[ɪˈvændʒəlɪst]US[ɪˈvændʒəlɪst]
n
A person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith, especially by public preaching.
n
An ardent advocate or supporter of a particular cause or idea.
Morpheme Breakdown
evangel
ist
evangel
good news
ist
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'evangelist' has a journey rooted in ancient Greek optimism. It originates from the compound euangelion, formed from eu- (good, well) and angelia (message, news), literally meaning "good news." This term was adopted into Latin as evangelium, specifically referring to the Christian gospel. The agent suffix -istēs was later attached, creating a label for a messenger or proclaimer of this news. Over time, the meaning expanded beyond the strictly religious context to describe any zealous proponent of a cause, preserving the core idea of one who brings and advocates for a message perceived as beneficial.
Analysis
Structure: evangel (good news) + ist (agent suffix)
- evangel: From Greek euangelion, via Latin evangelium; a combining form meaning "good news" or "gospel."
- ist: From Greek -istēs, via Latin -ista; a suffix denoting an agent or person who practices or is concerned with something.
Examples
He traveled the country as an evangelist, preaching to large crowds.
She is a passionate evangelist for renewable energy technologies.
The company hired a chief evangelist to promote its new software platform.