ˌnikəˈdēˌmīt noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Nicodem us, the Jewish ruler who came to Jesus by night (from Latin, from Greek Nikodēmos ) (John 3:1-21) + English -ite
: a secret follower or adherent ; specifically : a 16th century Protestant Christian who to escape persecution concealed his Protestantism while living in a Roman Catholic country