Apocatastatic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to the concept of complete restoration or returning to an original state, often in a theological or philosophical context
2. Connected with the idea of universal reconciliation and the eventual renewal of all things to a perfect condition
3. Describing the doctrine or belief in the final restoration of all creation to its pristine or ideal form

Etymology: "Apocatastatic" is formed from "apocatastasis" with the adjectival suffix "-ic". The base noun comes from Greek "apokatastasis", built from "apo-" meaning "back" or "away" and "kata-" meaning "down" or "according to", with "stasis" meaning "standing" or "placing". Literally it suggests a standing or placing back into an original position, which is the root of its later sense of restoration to a former state. In Greek the noun was used in medicine and astronomy for the return of a body or organ to its normal condition, or of celestial bodies to their earlier positions. Its theological sense of universal restoration, in which all creation returns to its original state of grace, developed from this older physical meaning. The adjective simply attaches the regular English suffix to that theological noun, so it describes things relating to or holding this doctrine of final restoration.