Catechumen

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ËŒkæt.ɪˈkjuː.mÉ›n/
• US IPA: /ËŒkæt.əˈkju.mÉ™n/

Origin

From Old French catéchumène or ecclesiastical Latin catechumenus, from Ancient Greek κατηχούμενος (katēkhoumenos, "being instructed"), present participle passive of κατηχέω (katēkheō, "sound through, instruct orally, catechise"), from κατά (kata, "down") + ἠχή (ēkhē, "sound").

Full definition of catechumen

Noun

1. A convert to Christianity under instruction before baptism; a young Christian preparing for confirmation.
• 1963, Thomas Pynchon, V.:Here in this room an old man had killed and boiled a catechumen, had committed sodomy with a rat, had discussed a rodent nunhood with V., a future saint – depending which story you listened to.