English

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

From proselyte +‎ -ize.

Pronunciation

edit
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/, /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ə.taɪz/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɑ.sə.lɪ.taɪz/, /ˈpɹɑ.sə.lə.taɪz/
    • (Canada) (in addition to the above:) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɑ.zə.lɪ.taɪz/, /ˈpɹɑ.zə.lə.taɪz/

Verb

edit

proselytize (third-person singular simple present proselytizes, present participle proselytizing, simple past and past participle proselytized)

  1. (transitive, intransitive, broadly) To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.
    Synonyms: evangelize, convert
    1. (transitive, intransitive, strictly) To coerce into religious conversion.
      Synonym: convert
      Coordinate term: evangelize
    • 1796, Edmund Burke, A Letter from the Right Honourable Edmund Burke to a Noble Lord, on the Attacks Made upon Him and His Pension, [], 10th edition, London: [] J. Owen, [], and F[rancis] and C[harles] Rivington, [], →OCLC:
      One of these [people] whom they endeavour to proselytize.
    • 1909, Ralph Connor, chapter 14, in The Foreigner:
      “I am not sent here to proselytize. My church is not in that business.”
    • 2001 December 10, Douglas Waller, “A Terror Threat From The South”, in Time:
      Counterterrorism officials believe bin Laden has set up cells to proselytize the large Middle East expatriate population living in the area.
    It is illegal to proselytize [children] in some countries
  2. (by extension, transitive, intransitive) To advertise a non-religious belief, way of living, cause, point of view, (scientific) hypothesis, social or other position, political party, or other organization; to convince someone to join such a cause or organization or support such a position; to recruit someone.
    Synonyms: advocate, back, endorse, peddle, recruit
    He has strong political views, and an annoying habit of proselytizing at parties.
    • 2010, Dolly Freed, Possum Living, page 149:
      Previously I promised not to proselytize miserism, but now I want to renege a little on that promise. If your family income is anywhere near average, you can scrimp and save and cut back for maybe two to four years []
edit

Translations

edit

Further reading

edit