1. A new convert or proselyte; a name given by the early Christians to such heathens as had recently embraced the Christian faith, and were considered as regenerated by baptism.
2. A novice; one newly admitted to the order of priest.
1. A new convert or proselyte; -- a name given by the early Christians, and still given by the Roman Catholics, to such as have recently embraced the Christian faith, and been admitted to baptism, esp. to converts from heathenism or Judaism.
NEOPHYTE (v∈0<∕>υτoς, “newly planted ”) was the designation applied to newly baptized persons in the ancient church. These usually wore the white garments which they received at their admission to the church (see Baptism, vol. iii. p. 351) during the whole of the following week, but the application of the name did not necessarily cease at the close of that period. A special employment of the word was to denote one who, not having duly passed through the inferior grades, was in view of 1 Tim. iii. 6 considered canonically unfit to be consecrated a bishop.
9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 17, p. 331 [97 words — estimated reading time: 1 minute]
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