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.

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catechumen British  

/ ˌkætɪˈkjuːmɛn, ˌkætəkjʊˈmɛnɪkəl /

noun

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

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

Example Sentences

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

Immediately on his birth, he was made a catechumen; in his childhood he fell ill, and asked for baptism.

From An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine by Newman, John Henry Cardinal

I hope that as a catechumen I shall do honor to you.

From Poor Relations by MacKenzie, Compton

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

Related Words

• adherent
• apostle
• cohort
• devotee
• enthusiast
• fanatic
• learner
• pupil
• zealot