Dictionary

proselytize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɹɑ.zə.lə.taɪz/ (Canada)
• /ˈpɹɑ.sə.lə.taɪz/ (General-American)
• /ˈpɹɑ.zə.lɪ.taɪz/ (Canada)
• /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ə.taɪz/ (UK)
• /ˈpɹɒs.əl.ɪ.taɪz/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈpɹɑ.sə.lɪ.taɪz/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree English proselyte Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English proselytize From proselyte + -ize.

Meanings

1. (ambitransitive, broadly) To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so.
   • One of these [people] whom they endeavour to proselytize. 1796, Edmund Burke, A Letter from the Right Honourable Edmund Burke to a Noble Lord, on the Attacks Made upon Him and His Pension, […], London: […] J. Owen, […], and F[rancis] and C[harles] Rivington, […], →OCLC:
   • It is illegal to proselytize [children] in some countries
   • “I am not sent here to proselytize. My church is not in that business.” 1909, Ralph Connor, chapter 14, in The Foreigner:
   • Counterterrorism officials believe bin Laden has set up cells to proselytize the large Middle East expatriate population living in the area. 2001 December 10, Douglas Waller, “A Terror Threat From The South”, in Time:
2. (ambitransitive, broadly, qualifier:strictly) To advertise one’s religious beliefs; to convert (someone) to one’s own faith or religious movement or encourage them to do so. ▸ To coerce into religious conversion.
3. (ambitransitive, broadly) 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.
   • 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 […] 2010, Dolly Freed, Possum Living, page 149:
   • He has strong political views, and an annoying habit of proselytizing at parties.

Forms

Coordinates

evangelize

Deriveds

proselytization · proselytizer · proselytute

Relateds

proselytism · proselyte

Synonyms

evangelize · convert · advocate · convert · peddle · recruit · evangelize · endorse · back

Translations (52)

no misjonere (convert to one’s own faith) · ru обраща́ть в свою веру (convert to one’s own faith) · fi tehdä lähetystyötä (convert to one’s own faith) · sh konvertirati se (convert to one’s own faith) · de seinen Glauben predigen (convert to one’s own faith) · el προσηλυτίζω (convert to one’s own faith) · nl bekeren (convert to one’s own faith) · cmn 傳教 /传教 (convert to one’s own faith) · es catequizar (convert to one’s own faith) · da missionere (induce people to join a cause) · es misionar (convert to one’s own faith) · hu térít (hitre, vallásra) (induce people to join a cause) · cy proselyteiddio (convert to one’s own faith) · fi käännyttää (convert to one’s own faith) · es misionar (induce people to join a cause) · da omvende (convert to one’s own faith) · cs získávat stoupence (induce people to join a cause) · de überzeugen (induce people to join a cause) · nl missioneren (induce people to join a cause) · pt proselitizar (induce people to join a cause) · de für seine Sache gewinnen (induce people to join a cause) · de bekehren (induce people to join a cause) · fi tehdä käännytystyötä (induce people to join a cause) · es catequizar (induce people to join a cause) · ja 改宗 (convert to one’s own faith) · pl apostołować (induce people to join a cause) · pt converter (convert to one’s own faith) · cs obrátit na víru (convert to one’s own faith) · es proselitizar (convert to one’s own faith) · fi värvätä (induce people to join a cause) · nl werven (induce people to join a cause) · hu megtérít (convert to one’s own faith) · cs obracet na víru (convert to one’s own faith) · de bekehren (convert to one’s own faith) · hu áttérít (hitre, vallásra) (convert to one’s own faith) · ru завлека́ть (induce people to join a cause) · pl apostołować (convert to one’s own faith) · sh misionirati (induce people to join a cause) · fr prosélytiser (induce people to join a cause) · sh preobratiti se (convert to one’s own faith) · sv proselytisera (convert to one’s own faith) · ml മതം മാറ്റുക (convert to one’s own faith) · fi käännyttää (induce people to join a cause) · pt proselitar (induce people to join a cause) · el προσηλυτίζω (induce people to join a cause) · de missionieren (convert to one’s own faith) · de (Anhänger) gewinnen (induce people to join a cause) · sv omvända (convert to one’s own faith) · fr prosélytiser (convert to one’s own faith) · sh promijeniti vjeru (convert to one’s own faith) · es proselitizar (induce people to join a cause) · de seinen Glauben verkünden (convert to one’s own faith)