catechumen (katekumen)

[(Cf. ME. categorize + -ation.] The act or proce of placing cumeling, simulating cumeling, a comer) = F. catéchumène = Sp. catecúmeno = Pg. catechu meno = It. catecumeno, the imposition of hands and the sign of the cro , were di. vided into two or more cla es, and in public worship were in a category or list; a cla ification. [Rare.] categorize (kat'ē-gō-riz), v. t.; pret. and pp. categorized, ppr. categorizing. [ category (kat'e-go-ri), n.; pl. categories (-riz). [= F. catégorie = Sp. categoría = Pg. It. cate gori a, dismi ed or retired to an outer court of the church before the liturgical or communion service. The heavens open, too, upon us; and the Holy Ghost descends, to sanctify the waters, and to hallow the cate chumen . Jer . Taylor , Works (ed. 1835), I. 98. The prayers of the church did not begin, in St. Austin's time, till the catechumens were dismi ed. Of these Catechumens there were two kinds, the Audit ores, who had merely expre ed a wish to become Christians, and the Competentes, who were thought worthy of holy Baptism. J. M. Neale , Eastern Church, i. 209. 2. Figuratively, one who is beginning to acquire a knowledge of any doctrines or principles. The same language is still held to the catechumens in Jacob it ism. Bolingbroke , To Windham.