Neophyte

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Neophyte \Ne"o*phyte\ (n[=e]"[-o]*f[imac]t), n. [L. neophytis,
     Gr. neo`fytos, prop., newly planted; ne`os new + fyto`s
     grown, fyto`n that which has grown, a plant, fr. fy`ein to
     grow: cf. F. n['e]ophyte. See {New}, and {Be}.]
     1. A new convert or proselyte; -- a name given by the early
        Christians, and still given by the Roman Catholics, to


        such as have recently embraced the Christian faith, and
        been admitted to baptism, esp. to converts from heathenism
        or Judaism.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Hence: A novice; a tyro; a beginner in anything.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  neophyte
       n 1: a plant that is found in an area where it had not been
            recorded previously
       2: any new participant in some activity [syn: {newcomer}, {fledgling},
           {fledgeling}, {starter}, {freshman}, {newbie}, {entrant}]
       3: a new convert being taught the principles of Christianity by
          a catechist [syn: {catechumen}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  60 Moby Thesaurus words for "neophyte":
     Christian, God-fearing man, abecedarian, accepter, alphabetarian,
     apprentice, articled clerk, baby, beginner, believer, boot,
     catechumen, churchgoer, churchite, churchman, colt, communicant,
     convert, daily communicant, deb, debutant, devotee, devotionalist,
     disciple, entrant, fanatic, fledgling, follower, freshman,
     good Christian, greenhorn, greeny, ignoramus, inductee, infant,
     initiate, learner, nestling, new boy, newcomer, novice, novitiate,
     pietist, postulant, probationer, probationist, proselyte,
     raw recruit, receiver, recruit, religionist, rookie, saint,
     tenderfoot, theist, trainee, truster, tyro, votary, zealot