'apostatize' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀποστασία' (apostasia), where 'apo-' meant 'away from' and 'stasis' (from 'histēmi'/'stasis') meant 'standing' or 'a standing away (defection)'.

'apostatize' changed from Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'apostasia'/'apostatizare' (borrowed from Greek) and later appeared in English as 'apostatize' (via scholarly/learned borrowing).

Initially, it meant 'a standing away or defection' (literal sense of leaving one's position); over time it evolved into the specific sense 'to renounce or abandon a religious or political belief' used in modern English.