novicius

Novicius is a Latin adjective meaning "new" or "inexperienced" and, in some contexts, a noun referring to a person who has recently joined a group. In Latin grammar, it has gendered forms: novicius (masculine), novicia (feminine), novicium (neuter). The term is the root of related English words such as novice and novitiate, which entered English via medieval Latin and Old French.

In classical usage, novicius could describe a person who is a recent recruit or newcomer to an organization, school, profession, or other community, often with an emphasis on lack of experience.

In religious contexts, the term is closely associated with the period of novitiate in Christian orders, during which a candidate learns the rules and disciplines before taking vows. The person is commonly called a novice in English, while the Latin description might appear as novicius within manuscripts.

Today, novicius is rarely used in ordinary English; it chiefly appears in linguistic or historical discussions. The common English term is "novice." Occasionally, novicius may appear as a proper noun in literature or as a stylistic name.