Apikoros Definition

Origin of Apikoros

• From Hebrew אֶפִּיקוֹרוֹס ('eppiqóros, “heretic”), from אפקרסותא (“heresy”). From the root פקר (“to break out”) with a formative ס (compare אפקרסין (“undergarments”) from פקר (“undress”)). Phonetically coincidental with Ancient Greek ᾽Επίκουρος (Epíkouros, “Epicurus”), the name of the ancient Greek philosopher who founded Epicureanism - this similarity probably contributed significantly to the popularity of the term in rabbinic literature.

  From Wiktionary