novitiate

or no·vi·ci·ate

[ noh-vish-ee-it, -eyt ]
/ noʊˈvɪʃ i ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

noun

the state or period of being a novice of a religious order or congregation.
the quarters occupied by religious novices during probation.
the state or period of being a beginner in anything.
a novice.

Origin of novitiate

1590–1600; < Medieval Latin, equivalent to novīti(us) novice + -ātus -ate3

Example sentences from the Web for novitiate

British Dictionary definitions for novitiate

novitiate

noviciate

/ (nəʊˈvɪʃɪɪt, -ˌeɪt) /

noun

the state of being a novice, esp in a religious order, or the period for which this lasts
the part of a religious house where the novices live
a less common word for novice

Word Origin for novitiate

C17: from French noviciat, from Latin novīcius novice