Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

novice

 - 3 dictionary results

nov⋅ice

  [nov-is]
Use novice in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person who is new to the circumstances, work, etc., in which he or she is placed; beginner; tyro: a novice in politics.
2. a person who has been received into a religious order or congregation for a period of probation before taking vows.
3. a person newly become a church member.
4. a recent convert to Christianity.
Origin:
1300–50; ME novyce < MF novice < ML novītius convent novice, var. of L novīcius newly come into a particular status, deriv. of novus new. See -itious

Related forms:
nov⋅ice⋅hood, noun
nov⋅ice⋅like, adjective

Synonyms:
1. newcomer. 1, 2. neophyte.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To novice
nov·ice   (nŏv'ĭs)   
n.  

  1. A person new to a field or activity; a beginner.

  2. A person who has entered a religious order but has not yet taken final vows. Also called novitiate.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin novīcius, from Latin, recently entered into a condition, from Latin novus, new; see newo- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

novice 
1340, "probationer in a religious order," from O.Fr. novice, from M.L. novicius, noun use of L. novicius "newly imported, inexperienced" (of slaves), from novus "new" (see new). Meaning "inexperienced person" is attested from 1432.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see novice on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way