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
Examples from the Web for catechumenate
Historical Examples
About the year 300, those desirous of being baptized were (a) admitted to the catechumenate, giving in their names to the bishop.
These two rites really begin the catechumenate or period of instruction in the faith and discipline of the church.
catechumen
- Christianity a person, esp in the early Church, undergoing instruction prior to baptism
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Word Origin
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 catechumenate
catechumen
n.
"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