Library / English Dictionary

NOVICE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone new to a field or activity

Synonyms:

beginner; initiate; novice; tiro; tyro

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("novice" is a kind of...):

unskilled person (a person who lacks technical training)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "novice"):

abecedarian (a novice learning the rudiments of some subject)

apprentice; learner; prentice (works for an expert to learn a trade)

cub; greenhorn; rookie (an awkward and inexperienced youth)

landlubber; landsman; lubber (an inexperienced sailor; a sailor on the first voyage)

entrant; fledgeling; fledgling; freshman; neophyte; newbie; newcomer; starter (any new participant in some activity)

tenderfoot (an inexperienced person (especially someone inexperienced in outdoor living))

trainee (someone who is being trained)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows

Synonyms:

novice; novitiate

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("novice" is a kind of...):

religious person (a person who manifests devotion to a deity)

Credits

 Context examples: 

“It would, perchance, be best that the novices be not admitted,” suggested the master.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At this solemn indictment the novice raised his hand and twitched his lip, while even the placid senior brothers glanced across at each other and coughed to cover their amusement.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But the novice was a strategist as well as a man of action.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Little enough, good father, little enough,” said the novice, speaking English with a broad West Saxon drawl.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Two and thirty of the seniors and fifteen of the novices, most holy father.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The young novice, however, appeared to have other thoughts, for his eyes sparkled and his smile broadened.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

For it was a different place from that which he had pictured—very different from that which he had heard described when the master of the novices held forth to his charges upon the ravening wolves who lurked for them beyond the peaceful folds of Beaulieu.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

See how he has rushed through the incense-bearers, thrust aside lay-sister Agatha, scattered the two-and-twenty damosels who sang so sweetly—and he stands before the novice with his hands out-stretched, and his face shining, and the light of love in his gray eyes.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With a bow to the Abbot, which had in it perhaps more pleasantry than reverence, the novice strode across to the carved prie-dieu which had been set apart for him, and stood silent and erect with his hand upon the gold bell which was used in the private orisons of the Abbot's own household.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And the novices?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)