neophyte

[ nee-uh-fahyt ]
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noun
  1. a beginner or novice: He's a neophyte at chess.

  2. Roman Catholic Church. a novice.

  1. a person newly converted to a belief, as a heathen, heretic, or nonbeliever; proselyte.

  2. Primitive Church. a person newly baptized.

Origin of neophyte

1
First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin neophytus “newly planted,” from Greek neóphytos; see neo-, -phyte

Other words for neophyte

Other words from neophyte

  • ne·o·phyt·ic [nee-uh-fit-ik], /ˌni əˈfɪt ɪk/, ne·o·phyt·ish [nee-uh-fahy-tish], /ˈni əˌfaɪ tɪʃ/, adjective
  • ne·o·phyt·ism [nee-uh-fahy-tiz-uhm], /ˈni ə faɪˌtɪz əm/, noun

Words Nearby neophyte

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use neophyte in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for neophyte

neophyte

/ (ˈniːəʊˌfaɪt) /


noun
  1. a person newly converted to a religious faith

  2. RC Church a novice in a religious order

  1. a novice or beginner

Origin of neophyte

1
C16: via Church Latin from New Testament Greek neophutos recently planted, from neos new + phuton a plant

Derived forms of neophyte

  • neophytic (ˌniːəʊˈfɪtɪk), adjective

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