Proselyte

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpɹɒsɪlʌɪt/

Origin

From Middle English proselite, from Late Latin proselutus (proselytus, "proselyte, alien resident"), from Ancient Greek προσηλυτος ("newcomer, convert") (from πρό (pro, "to, towards") and λυτός), translation of Hebrew גר in the Septuagint translation of the Torah (e.g., Exodus 12:49); also used in Matthew 23:15, Acts 2:10, Acts 6:5.

Full definition of proselyte

Noun

1. One who has recently converted to a religion or doctrine, especially a gentile converted to Judaism.
• King James Bible, Matthew 23:15:Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Verb

1. (transitive) To proselytize.

Derived terms

• proselyter
• proselytic
• proselytism

Anagrams

• polyester
• polytrees