n. [ OE. proselite, OF. proselite, F. proselytus, Gr. &unr_;, adj., that has come, n., a new comer, especially, one who has come over from heathenism to the Jewish religion; &unr_; toward, to + (prob.) the root of &unr_; to come. ] A new convert especially a convert to some religion or religious sect, or to some particular opinion, system, or party; thus, a Gentile converted to Judaism, or a pagan converted to Christianity, is a proselyte. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye [ Scribes and Pharisees ] compass sea and land to make one proselyte. Matt. xxiii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fresh confidence the speculatist takes
From every harebrained proselyte he makes. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Convert. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Proselyted p. pr. & vb. n. Proselyting. ] To convert to some religion, opinion, or system; to bring over. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. prosélytisme. ] 1. The act or practice of proselyting; the making of converts to a religion or a religious sect, or to any opinion, system, or party. [ 1913 Webster ]

They were possessed of a spirit of proselytism in the most fanatical degree. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Conversion to a religion, system, or party. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. proselytized p. pr. & vb. n. Proselytizing ] To convert to some religion, system, opinion, or the like; to bring, or cause to come, over; to proselyte. [ 1913 Webster ]

One of those whom they endeavor to proselytize. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make converts or proselytes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who proselytes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + proselyte. ] To convert or recover from the state of a proselyte. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]