novitiate

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

novitiate
    n 1: the period during which you are a novice (especially in a
         religious order) [syn: {novitiate}, {noviciate}]
    2: someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken
       final vows [syn: {novitiate}, {novice}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Novitiate \No*vi"ti*ate\, n. [LL. novitiatus: cf. F. noviciat.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The state of being a novice; time of initiation or
      instruction in rudiments.
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   2. Hence: The time of probation in a religious house before
      taking the vows.
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   3. One who is going through a novitiate, or period of
      probation; a novice. --Addison.
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   4. The place where novices live or are trained. [R.]
      [1913 Webster]