nov·ice / ˈnävəs/ • n. a person new to or inexperienced in a field or situation: he was a complete novice in foreign affairs. ∎  a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows. ∎  an animal, esp. a racehorse, that has not yet won a major prize or reached a level of performance to qualify for important events.

novice probationer in a religious community XIV; inexperienced person XV. — (O)F. — L. novīcius, f. novus NEW; see -ITIOUS1.
So noviciate (-ATE1) XVI. — F. or medL.