neophyte

C2 Topic:Religion & Belief

US /ˈniː.əˌfaɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #73130

Meanings

1

noun
A beginner; someone who is new to an activity, subject, or belief.

As a neophyte in the kitchen, he burned his first three dishes.
2

noun
A new convert to a religion or faith.

The neophyte was welcomed into the church after months of study.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a beginner; someone who is... beginner novice apprentice

2 noun · a new convert to a religion... initiate proselyte

Word family

Forms neophytes

Derived forms neophytalneophyticneophytishneophytism

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.

neophytus Latin νεόφυτος Ancient Greek

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# neophyte

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈniː.əˌfaɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 73130

## Meanings
1. A beginner; someone who is new to an activity, subject, or belief.
2. A new convert to a religion or faith.

## Examples
- As a neophyte in the kitchen, he burned his first three dishes.
- The neophyte was welcomed into the church after months of study.

## Derived Forms
- neophytal
- neophytic
- neophytish
- neophytism

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: neophytus
- Root: νεόφυτος

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Neophyte is borrowed from Latin neophytus, from Ancient Greek νεόφυτος (neóphutos, “newly planted”), from νέος (néos, “new”) + φυτόν (phutón, “plant, child”). By surface analysis, neo- + -phyte. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include neophytus (Latin) and νεόφυτος (Ancient Greek). Current senses include a beginner; someone who is new to an activity, subject, or belief and a new convert to a religion or faith. The wider family includes derived forms such as neophytal, neophytic, neophytish, and neophytism.

## Topics
- Religion & Belief

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neophyte

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