proselytize
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Alternative forms
- proselytise (non-Oxford British English)
Etymology
Pronunciation
Verb
proselytize (third-person singular simple present proselytizes, present participle proselytizing, simple past and past participle proselytized)
- (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
- (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
- (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 […]
Related terms
Translations
convert to one’s own faith
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induce people to join a cause
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Further reading
- “proselytize”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
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