Adjacent Words

Neophyte definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

NEOPHYTE, n.
1. A new convert or proselyte; a name given by the early Christians to such heathens as had recently embraced the Christian faith, and were considered as regenerated by baptism.
2. A novice; one newly admitted to the order of priest.
3. A tyro; a beginner in learning.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

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, neophyte, freshman, newbie, entrant]
3: a new convert being taught the principles of Christianity by a catechist [syn: catechumen, neophyte]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin neophytus, from Greek neophytos, from neophytos newly planted, newly converted, from ne- + phyein to bring forth — more at be Date: 14th century 1. a new convert ; proselyte 2. novice 1 3. tyro, beginner

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a new convert, esp. to a religious faith. 2 RC Ch. a a novice of a religious order. b a newly ordained priest. 3 a beginner; a novice. Etymology: eccl.L neophytus f. NT Gk neophutos newly planted (as NEO- phuton plant)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Neophyte Ne"o*phyte, n. [L. neophytis, Gr. ?, prop., newly planted; ? new + ? grown, ? that which has grown, a plant, fr. ? 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. 2. A novice; a tyro; a beginner in anything.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(neophytes) A neophyte is someone who is new to a particular activity. (FORMAL) ...the self-proclaimed political neophyte Ross Perot. = novice N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Convert, proselyte. 2. Novice, catechumen. 3. Beginner, tyro, pupil, novice.

Moby Thesaurus

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