catechist

[kat-i-kist]

noun

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

Origin of catechist

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

Related formscat·e·chis·tic, cat·e·chis·ti·cal, adjectivecat·e·chis·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·cat·e·chis·tic, adjectivenon·cat·e·chis·ti·cal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for catechist

Historical Examples of catechist

In 1881 he was elected as the first elder of the church, and in 1887 was appointed a Catechist.
The Choctaw Freedmen
Robert Elliott Flickinger
After this, he and Nallamuttoo, the Catechist, daily instructed me and prayed with me for many weeks.
Old Daniel
Thomas Hodson
He was quite blind, and told me he was a catechist, which should have put me at my ease.
Kidnapped
Robert Louis Stevenson
When I told him of my catechist, he shook his head, and said I was lucky to have got clear off.
Kidnapped
Robert Louis Stevenson
A catechist can conduct ordinary services, just as a minister can.
Gairloch In North-West Ross-Shire
John H. Dixon, F.S.A. Scot

Word Origin and History for catechist

1560s, from Church Latin catechista, from Greek katekhistes "one who catechizes," from katekhizein "to teach orally" (see catechize). Related: Catechistic; catechistical.