In an apologetic manner; by way of defense, apology or excuse.

Having the character of apology; regretfully excusing / (dated) Defending by words or arguments; said or written in defense.

The field of study concerned with the systematic defense of a position, or of religious or occult doctrines

apologetic

The quality of being apologetic.

(sociolinguistics, orthography) An apostrophe added to a Scots word in order to give the appearance that it is a contraction of an English word.

plural of apologetic apostrophe

A treatise or field of study critical of religious apologetics.