Catechumen
/ˌkætəˈkjuːmən/noun
A person receiving instruction in the Christian faith before baptism.
Did you know?Catechumen comes through Greek from a verb meaning “to sound down into” or “to instruct by word of mouth,” because early faith was first transmitted as spoken repetition, not silent reading.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κατηχεῖν (katēkheîn)
“to resound, to instruct orally”
Late Greek
Greek
κατηχούμενος (katēchoúmenos)
“one being instructed, especially in Christian doctrine”
Late Latin
Latin
catechūmenus
“a person under religious instruction before baptism”
14th Century
English
catechumen
“a person receiving instruction in the principles of Christianity”
Modern English
English
catechumen
“a person being prepared for baptism or religious initiation”
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