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catechumen

American  
[kat-i-kyoo-muhn] / ˌkæt ɪˈkyu mən /

noun

  1. Ecclesiastical. a person under instruction in the rudiments of Christianity, as in the early church; a neophyte.

  2. a person being taught the elementary facts, principles, etc., of any subject.


catechumen British  
/ ˌkætɪˈkjuːmɛn, ˌkætəkjʊˈmɛnɪkəl /

noun

  1. Christianity a person, esp in the early Church, undergoing instruction prior to baptism

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • catechumenal adjective
  • catechumenate noun
  • catechumenical adjective
  • catechumenically adverb
  • catechumenism noun

Etymology

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 ( catechist ) + -omenos middle present participle suffix; replacing Middle English cathecumyn < Middle French cathecumine < Late Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Thereupon she called her brother to her, and that catechumen, and spoke to them, saying: Stand fast in the faith, and love you all one another; and be not offended because of our passion.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Born of heathen parents, he turned to Christ and became a catechumen.

From Time Magazine Archive

A hearer; especially a catechumen in the early church.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

A long and tedious course of preparation was required of the candidate before his eligibility was admitted; during this time he was known as a catechumen, or novice in training.

From The Great Apostasy Considered in the Light of Scriptural and Secular History by Talmage, James Edward

At the Catholic baptism, the catechumen renounced Satan, with his works and pomps.

From The Inquisition A Critical and Historical Study of the Coercive Power of the Church by Conway, Bertrand L. (Bertrand Louis)