proselyte

American  

[pros-uh-lahyt] / ˈprɒs əˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a person who has changed from one opinion, religious belief, sect, or the like, to another; convert.

   Synonyms:

   novice, neophyte

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verb (used with or without object)

proselyted, proselyting

1. proselytize.

proselyte British  

/ ˈprɒsɪlɪˌtɪzəm, ˈprɒsɪˌlaɪt, ˌprɒsɪˈlɪtɪk /

noun

1. a person newly converted to a religious faith or sect; a convert, esp a gentile converted to Judaism

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verb

1. a less common word for proselytize

Other Word Forms

• proselyter
  noun
• proselytic
  adjective
• proselytism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of proselyte

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Late Latin prosēlytus, from Greek (Septuagint) prosḗlytos, for unattested prosḗlythos “newcomer, proselyte,” equivalent to prosēlyth- (suppletive stem of prosérchesthai “to approach”) + -os noun suffix

Explanation

A proselyte is a new convert, especially someone who has recently switched from one religion to another. In some Christian churches, a proselyte must be baptized. You can use the word proselyte to talk about any kind of convert, even those that aren't religious. You could, for example, call your brother a proselyte if he voted for a Republican in the last election but recently joined the Democratic party. The most common use of the word, however, is someone who converts to Judaism. Proselyte has a Greek root, proselytos, which means both "convert to Judaism" and "one who has come over."

Example Sentences

Proselyte, pros′e-līt, n. one who has come over from one religion or opinion to another: a convert, esp. one who left the heathen and joined a Jewish community.—v.t. to convert.—v.t.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Thus we find, too, modern American Jews formulating Articles of Faith as a Proselyte Confession.

From Judaism by Abrahams, Israel

Every Proselyte is like a new Argument for the Establishment of his Faith.

From The Spectator, Volume 1 Eighteenth-Century Periodical Essays by Addison, Joseph

After a time he came to Cracow, where he got acquainted with the L.J.S. missionary Hoff, who gave him to read "The Confession of a Proselyte," by Fr�nkel, and also the New Testament.

From Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by B.D.