— novicehood , n. — novicelike , adj.
/nov"is/ , n.
1. a person who is new to the circumstances, work, etc., in which he or she is placed; beginner; tyro: a novice in politics.
2. a person who has been received into a religious order or congregation for a period of probation before taking vows.
3. a person newly become a church member.
4. a recent convert to Christianity.
[ 1300-50; ME novyce novice novitius convent novice, var. of L novicius newly come into a particular status, deriv. of novus NEW. See -ITIOUS ]
Syn. 1. newcomer. 1, 2 . neophyte.