novitiate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the period during which you are a novice (especially in a religious order)
    noviciate.
  2. noun someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows
    novice.

WordNet

No*vi"ti*ate noun
Etymology
LL. novitiatus: cf. F. noviciat.
Definitions
  1. The state of being a novice; time of initiation or instruction in rudiments.
  2. Hence: Time of probation in a religious house before taking the vows.
  3. One who is going through a novitiate, or period of probation; a novice. Addison.
  4. The place where novices live or are trained. R.

Webster 1913