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catechist

[kat-i-kist]
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noun
  1. a person who catechizes.
  2. Ecclesiastical. a person appointed to instruct catechumens in the principles of religion as a preparation for baptism.
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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. 2018

Examples from the Web for catechist

Historical Examples

  • 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

n.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper