No-vĭt'i-ate, n.

(-vĭsh'ĭ-, 95), n. [L. Lat. novitiatus, Fr. noviciat, Sp. noviciado, It. noviziato.]

1. The state or condition of being a novice; time of initiation, experience, or instruction in rudiments; hence, time of probation in a religious house, before taking the vows.
2. One who is going through a novitiate, or period of probation; a novice.