I. əˈprentə̇s noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English apprentis, aprentis, from Middle French aprentis, from Old French, from aprendre to learn, from Latin apprendere to grasp mentally, seize, contraction of apprehendere — more at apprehend
1.
a. : one who is bound by indentures or by legal agreement to serve another person for a certain time with a view to learning an art or trade in consideration of instruction therein and formerly usually of maintenance by the master
b. : one who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers a trade, art, or calling usually for a prescribed period of time and at a prescribed rate of pay
apprentice bricklayer
actor's apprentice
apprentice teacher
2.
a. English law , archaic : a barrister-at-law of less than 16 years' standing and ranking below a serjeant-at-law
b. : an enlisted man in the United States Navy who has completed recruit training at a training center ashore but who has not been promoted to seaman or airman
c. : a jockey who has yet to win 40 races or has ridden less than a year
d. : the lowest rank in the exploring program of the Boy Scouts of America
3. : one not well versed in a subject : an inexperienced person : tyro , novice
an apprentice in suffering and humiliation — Saul Bellow
Synonyms: see novice
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to bind by contract or indenture ; also : to set at work as an apprentice
at the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to a blacksmith — H.U.Faulkner