ˈnävə̇s noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English novice, novis, from Middle French novice, from Medieval Latin novicius, from Latin, new, inexperienced, from novus
1.
a. : one who has entered a religious house and is on probation : a postulant who has received the habit in a religious house and is under training
b. : one newly received into the church or one newly converted to the Christian faith
2. : one who has no previous training or experience in a specific field or activity : beginner , tyro
a novice in cooking who had never prepared a meal
a novice who was teaching his first class
a novice at bridge
3. : an animal that has never won a first prize in show competition
Synonyms:
novitiate , apprentice , probationer , postulant , neophyte : novice and the less common novitiate may designate any inexperienced beginner in a trade, career, or way of life, especially in a religious order
superiors instructing novices
her book shows the uneven hand of a novice at writing — Rose Feld
to show the Communist novitiate as a human being with idealistic impulses — Daniel Bell
apprentice may apply to a beginner placed, sometimes formally, under a master or supervisor for training or instruction
while still an apprentice, he had made his first attempt at engraving — R.C.Smith
the breathless, the fructifying adoration of a young apprentice in the atelier of some great master of the Renaissance — Van Wyck Brooks
probationer indicates a beginner on trial in which he must demonstrate aptitude
the probationer is not allowed to take part in assemblies or to sit as a judge — Current Biography
postulant designates a candidate on probation, especially for admission to a religious order
a master in the field of diplomacy but a postulant in democratic politics — M.W.Straight
neophyte is applicable to one, often eager and unsophisticated, newly connected with or entered into a group, society, faith, or pursuit
the old philosopher of Monticello was more than pleased with this ardent neophyte, who offered to purchase books for him in Europe — Van Wyck Brooks
in many states it is almost impossible to differentiate between the neophyte and the confirmed criminal — C.R.Cooper