noviciate

/noʊˈvɪʃiɪt/
noun
  1. The period or state of being a novice, especially in a religious order.
    • During his noviciate, he studied theology and lived in silence.
    • Her noviciate lasted two years before she took her final vows.
    • The noviciate is a time of testing and learning for new members.
  2. A place where novices live and train in a religious community.
    • The garden at the noviciate was used for meditation.
    • She moved into the noviciate to begin her religious training.
    • The noviciate was a quiet building set apart from the main monastery.
What does "noviciate" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean