catechumen
[kat-i-kyoo-muh n]
- Ecclesiastical. a person under instruction in the rudiments of Christianity, as in the early church; a neophyte.
- a person being taught the elementary facts, principles, etc., of any subject.
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Origin of catechumen
1325–75; < Late Latin catēchūmenus < Greek katēchoúmenos (one who is) being taught orally, equivalent to katēche-, stem of katēcheîn to teach orally (see catechist) + -omenos middle present participle suffix; replacing Middle English cathecumyn < Middle French cathecumine < Late Latin, as above
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for catechumen
pupil, beginner, trainee, undergraduate, senior, learner, student, novice, neophyte, newcomer, follower, disciple, enthusiast, devotee, adherent, fanatic, apostle, cohort, zealot, buffcatechumen
- Christianity a person, esp in the early Church, undergoing instruction prior to baptism
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Word Origin for catechumen
C15: via Old French, from Late Latin, from Greek katēkhoumenos one being instructed verbally, from katēkhein; see catechize
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for catechumen
"new convert," 15c., from French catéchumène, from Church Latin catechumenus, from Greek katekhoumenos "one being instructed," passive present participle of katekhein (see catechesis).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper