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Synonyms

novitiate

American  
[noh-vish-ee-it, -eyt] / noʊˈvɪʃ i ɪt, -ˌeɪt /
Or noviciate

noun

  1. the state or period of being a novice of a religious order or congregation.

  2. the quarters occupied by religious novices during probation.

  3. the state or period of being a beginner in anything.

  4. a novice.


novitiate British  
/ -ˌeɪt, nəʊˈvɪʃɪɪt /

noun

  1. the state of being a novice, esp in a religious order, or the period for which this lasts

  2. the part of a religious house where the novices live

  3. a less common word for novice

"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

Etymology

Origin of novitiate

1590–1600; < Medieval Latin, equivalent to novīti ( us ) novice + -ātus -ate 3

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.

Set in Rome in 1971 just before the events of the first movie, “The First Omen’s” central figure is Margaret Daino, a dewy, virginal American novitiate played by Nell Tiger Free.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 5, 2024

He entered the novitiate in 1946 and was ordained in 1959.

From New York Times • Sep. 20, 2022

In 1977, she entered the Ursuline novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph in Maple Mount, Ky. She moved to Guatemala after teaching kindergarten in Kentucky.

From Washington Post • Feb. 19, 2021

After she completes her candidacy in the coming months, she will enter the two-year novitiate phase.

From Washington Times • Oct. 20, 2018

She had joined the novitiate at the Sisters of the Star.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill

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