catechist

[kat-i-kist]

noun

1. a person who catechizes.

2. Ecclesiastical.,  a person appointed to instruct catechumens in the principles of religion as a preparation for baptism.

Other Word Forms

• catechistic adjective
• catechistical adjective
• catechistically adverb
• noncatechistic adjective
• noncatechistical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of catechist¹

1555–65; < Late Latin catēchista < Greek katēchistḗs, equivalent to katēch ( eîn ) to teach by word of mouth, originally to din down, i.e. to get results by shouting ( kat- cata- + ēcheîn to sound) + istēs -ist