proselyte

[ pros-uh-lahyt ]

noun

1. a person who has changed from one opinion, religious belief, sect, or the like, to another; convert.

   Synonyms: novice, neophyte

verb (used with or without object)

, pros·e·lyt·ed, pros·e·lyt·ing.

1. proselytize ( def ).

proselyte

/ ˈprɒsɪlɪˌtɪzəm; ˈprɒsɪˌlaɪt; ˌprɒsɪˈlɪtɪk /

noun

1. a person newly converted to a religious faith or sect; a convert, esp a gentile converted to Judaism

verb

1. a less common word for proselytize

Derived Forms

• proselytic, adjective
• proselytism, noun

Other Words From

• prose·lyter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of proselyte¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Late Latin prosēlytus, from Greek (Septuagint) prosḗlytos, for unattested prosḗlythos “newcomer, proselyte,” equivalent to prosēlyth- (suppletive stem of prosérchesthai “to approach”) + -os noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of proselyte¹

C14: from Church Latin prosēlytus, from Greek prosēlutos recent arrival, convert, from proserchesthai to draw near