novice

The story

1. Latin · derived fromnovīcius
2. Middle French · derived fromnovice
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromnovice
4. Middle English · inherited fromnovice
5. English todaynovice

From Middle English novice, novys, from Anglo-Norman novice, Middle French novice, itself borrowed from Latin novīcius, later novitius (“new, newly arrived”) (in Late Latin as a noun, masculine novicius, feminine novicia (“one who has newly entered a monastery or a convent”)), from novus (“new”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A beginner; one who is not very familiar or experienced in a particular subject.
• from 14th c. A new member of a religious order accepted on a conditional basis, prior to confirmation.