neophyte
[nee-uh-fahyt]
- a beginner or novice: He's a neophyte at chess.
- Roman Catholic Church. a novice.
- a person newly converted to a belief, as a heathen, heretic, or nonbeliever; proselyte.
- Primitive Church. a person newly baptized.
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Origin of neophyte
Synonyms
See more synonyms for neophyte on Thesaurus.com1. greenhorn, tyro.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for neophyte
Contemporary Examples
For the aficionado or the neophyte, Comics is a useful overview of a richly creative period in a burgeoning art.
The other thing the film got wrong was the premise that David was a neophyte, better suited for interviewing the Bee Gees.
All the hullabaloo confused the neophyte rockers, who had only been a band for two years and were searching for their own voice.
Wallin did not seem to be a neophyte in the ways of narcotics peddling.
It demonstrated to the neophyte publisher the importance a strong broadband presence can have for a burgeoning brand.
Historical Examples
Never before had neophyte lived so entirely for the happiness of others.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
The neophyte receives the falling drops on his head, clothes and body.
The Oriental Religions in Roman PaganismFranz Cumont
We welcome you, the neophyte, who has joined us in our pilgrimage.
Evening Round UpWilliam Crosbie Hunter
Let the neophyte try his luck, however, and prices will rise wonderfully.
The LibraryAndrew Lang
Yet, the neophyte, if he strolls by chance into a sale-room, will be surprised at the spectacle.
The LibraryAndrew Lang
neophyte
- a person newly converted to a religious faith
- RC Church a novice in a religious order
- a novice or beginner
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Word Origin
C16: via Church Latin from New Testament Greek neophutos recently planted, from neos new + phuton a plant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for neophyte
n.
"new convert," 1550s, from Ecclesiastical Latin neophytus, from Greek neophytos "a new convert," noun use of adjective meaning "newly initiated, newly converted," literally "newly planted," from neos "new" (see new) + phytos "grown; planted," verbal adjective of phyein "cause to grow, beget, plant" (see physic). Church sense is from I Tim. iii:6. Rare before 19c. General sense of "one who is new to any subject" is first recorded 1590s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper