proselytize

WOTD – 18 September 2009

English

Alternative forms

• (UK) proselytise

Etymology

proselyte +‎ -ize

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈprɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/, /ˈprɒs.əl.ə.taɪz/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈprɑ.sə.lɪ.taɪz/, /ˈprɑ.sə.lə.taɪz/

Verb

proselytize (third-person singular simple present proselytizes, present participle proselytizing, simple past and past participle proselytized)

1. (intransitive) To encourage or induce people to join a religious movement, political party, or other cause or organization.
   • 1909, Ralph Connor, The Foreigner, ch. 14:

     "I am not sent here to proselytize. My church is not in that business."

   • 2001, Douglas Waller, "A Terror Threat From The South," Time, 10 Dec.:

     Counterterrorism officials believe bin Laden has set up cells to proselytize the large Middle East expatriate population living in the area.

   It is illegal to proselytize in some countries

2. (transitive) To convert (someone) to one’s own faith or beliefs.
   • Burke

     One of those whom they endeavour to proselytize.

Related terms

• proselyte
• proselytism

Translations

to induce people to join a cause

• Czech: získávat stoupence
• Danish: missionere
• Dutch: missioneren, werven (nl)
• Finnish: tehdä lähetystyötä, käännyttää (religion); värvätä (fi) (other cause)

• French: prosélytiser
• German: bekehren, missionieren
• Russian: завлекать (ru) (zavlekatʹ)
• Spanish: misionar (es), convertir (es)

to convert to one’s own faith

• Czech: obrátit na víru, obracet na víru
• Danish: omvende
• Dutch: bekeren (nl)
• Finnish: käännyttää
• German: bekehren (de), missionieren (de)

• Norwegian: misjonere
• Russian: обращать (ru) (obraščatʹ) в свою веру
• Spanish: convertir (es), misionar (es)
• Swedish: omvända (sv)