English Explanatory Dictionary

neophyte

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A beginner; a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.
  2. A novice (recent convert); a new convert or proselyte; a new monk.
  3. Among the early Christians, and still among the Roman Catholics, one who has recently embraced the Christian faith, and been admitted to baptism, especially those converts from heathenism or Judaism.
  4. A plant species recently introduced to an area (in contrast to archaeophyte, a long-established introduced species).

Pronunciation

/ˈniː.əˌfaɪt/ /ˈniː.oʊˌfaɪt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-neophyte.wav

Word forms

neophyte neophytes

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin neophytus, from Ancient Greek νεόφυτος (neóphutos, “newly planted”), from νέος (néos, “new”) + φυτόν (phutón, “plant, child”). By surface analysis, neo- + -phyte.

Synonyms

beginner newbie newcomer starter novice rookie tyro abecedarian alphabetarian apprentice amateur bun colt first-timer fledgling FNG fresh meat freshman greenhorn greenie greener homo novus inceptor initiate Johnny-come-lately learner neophyte newb newbro new chum newfag newfriend newling noob n00b novitiate nozzer nub nubcake puny pup probationer probationist probie recruit stranger tenderfoot trainee younker proselyte

Antonyms

expert veteran master archaeophyte

Derived words

neophytal neophytic neophytish neophytism

Translations

Bulgarian: новопокръстен Catalan: neòfit Danish: Nybegynder Danish: neofyt Finnish: noviisi Finnish: neofyytti Finnish: vastakastettu Finnish: uusi käännynnäinen Georgian: ნეოფიტი Georgian: ახლადმოქცეული Georgian: ახალმოქცეული Georgian: სარწმუნოებაზე ახალმოქცეული Georgian: რჯულზე ახალმოქცეული German: Neophyt Hungarian: neofita Italian: neofita Portuguese: neófito Russian: неофи́т Spanish: neófito Swedish: neofyt
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