proselyte

/ˈpɹɒsəlaɪt/

Etymology

From Old French proselite, from Late Latin proselytus (“proselyte, alien resident”), from Ancient Greek προσήλυτος (prosḗlutos, “newcomer, convert”) (from πρός (prós, “to, towards”) and the stem -ηλυ- of ἐλήλυθα (elḗlutha), perfect of ἔρχομαι (érkhomai, “come”)), translation of Hebrew גר (ger) in the Septuagint translation of the Torah (e.g., Exodus 12:49); also used in Matthew 23:15, Acts 2:10, Acts 6:5.

proselyte means One who has converted to a religion or doctrine, especially a gentile converted to Judaism. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 84 out of 100.

Why this word is great

PROSELYTE — [Noun] A convert, specifically a gentile who has formally embraced Judaism, crossing a boundary of belief, law, and community. From Old French *proselite*, from Late Latin *proselytus* ("proselyte, alien resident"), from Ancient Greek *προσήλυτος* (*prosḗlutos*, "newcomer, convert"), from *πρός* (*prós*, "to, towards") + the stem *-ηλυ-* of *ἐλήλυθα* (*elḗlutha*, perfect of *ἔρχομαι*, *érkhomai*, "come"), used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew *גר* (*ger*, "sojourner, convert"). Unlike "convert," a broad and unburdened term, or "neophyte," which emphasizes naive inexperience, "proselyte" carries the formal gravity of a spiritual passport stamped, of ancient thresholds crossed. It is the scent of ritual water on the skin, the deliberate shaping of old lips around new prayers, and the permanent ache of a chosen belonging. To be a proselyte is to have the landscape of the old soul forever recede, visible but unreachable.

noun

One who has converted to a religion or doctrine, especially a gentile converted to Judaism.“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

To proselytize.