neophyte

English

Etymology

From Latin neophytus from Ancient Greek νεόφυτος (neophutos) from νέος (neos, “new”) + φυτόν (phuton, “plant, child”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA: /ˈni.əˌfaɪt/

Noun

neophyte (plural neophytes)

1. A beginner.
2. A novice (recent convert), a new convert or proselyte.
3. (Christianity) A name given by the early Christians, and still given by the Roman Catholics, to those who have recently embraced the Christian faith, and been admitted to baptism, especially those converts from heathenism or Judaism.
4. (biology) A plant species recently introduced to an area (in contrast to archaeophyte, a long-established introduced species).

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:beginner

Translations

beginner

Danish: Begynder (da) Dutch: beginner (nl) m.

Finnish: aloittelija (fi) Italian: neofita (it) m. and f. Spanish: neófito (es) m.

novice (recent convert)

Danish: Nybegynder (da) Finnish: vastakastettu (fi), uusi käännynnäinen, noviisi (fi)

Hungarian: neofita (hu) Italian: neofita (it) m. and f. Spanish: neófito (es) m.

early Christian convert

Finnish: neofyytti (fi)

Hungarian: neofita (hu) Spanish: neófito (es) m.

recently introduced plant species

Finnish: neofyytti (fi) German: Neophyt (de) m.

Hungarian: neofita (hu) Spanish: planta neófita (es) f.

References

• Random House Dictionary, 2nd Edition, 1987.

Anagrams

• phytoene

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Latin

Adjective

neophyte

1. vocative masculine singular of neophytus