'Novitiate' definitions:

Definition of 'novitiate'

noun

The period during which you are a novice (especially in a religious order) [syn: novitiate, noviciate]

noun

Someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows [syn: novitiate, novice]

From: GCIDE

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. [1913 Webster]
2. Hence: The time of probation in a religious house before taking the vows. [1913 Webster]
3. One who is going through a novitiate, or period of probation; a novice. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
4. The place where novices live or are trained. [R.] [1913 Webster]