novitiate

or no·vi·ci·ate

[ noh-vish-ee-it, -eyt ]

noun

1. the state or period of being a novice of a religious order or congregation.
2. the quarters occupied by religious novices during probation.
3. the state or period of being a beginner in anything.
4. a novice.

novitiate

/ -ˌeɪt; nəʊˈvɪʃɪɪt /

noun

1. the state of being a novice, esp in a religious order, or the period for which this lasts
2. the part of a religious house where the novices live
3. a less common word for novice

Word History and Origins

Origin of novitiate¹

1590–1600; < Medieval Latin, equivalent to novīti ( us ) novice + -ātus -ate ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of novitiate¹

C17: from French noviciat, from Latin novīcius novice

Example Sentences

Set in Rome in 1971 just before the events of the first movie, “The First Omen’s” central figure is Margaret Daino, a dewy, virginal American novitiate played by Nell Tiger Free.

From Seattle Times

Maggie Betts’ follow-up to the under-appreciated ‘Novitiate’ is an unabashedly crowd-pleasing courtroom drama with a lot on its mind.

From Los Angeles Times

Maggie Betts’ follow-up to the under-appreciated ‘Novitiate’ is an unabashedly crowd-pleasing courtroom drama with a lot on its mind.

From Los Angeles Times

But Betts, whose first feature was the absorbing monastic drama “Novitiate,” has a gift for subverting and fulfilling expectations at once, and also for turning the strictures of traditional establishments inside out.

From Los Angeles Times

Father Doran entered the Spiritan novitiate in 1952 and graduated with a degree in philosophy from University College Dublin in 1955.

From New York Times