apprentice

A trainee, especially in a skilled trade.

Noun

  1. A trainee, especially in a skilled trade.
    • To this end a well-equipped and keenly-run apprentice training school has been in operation at Eastleigh since 1958 and here apprentices are given a good grounding in a number of trades, followed by a thorough training...
    • Scottish rail suppliers have told the Government that they can only reach their target of employing 500 apprentices if they are given a clear pipeline of work, rather than having to endure the current stop-go programme....
  2. One who is bound by indentures or by legal agreement to serve a tradesperson, or other person, for a certain time, with a view to learn the art, or trade, in which his master is bound to instruct him.
  3. One not well versed in a subject; a tyro or newbie.

Origin

From Middle English apprentice, apprentesse, apprentyse, apprentis, from Old French aprentis, plural of aprentif, from Old French aprendre (verb), Late Latin apprendō, from Classical Latin apprehendō. Compare typologically Latin discipulus (akin to capiō); Russian ухвати́ть (uxvatítʹ), нахвата́ться (naxvatátʹsja), схва́тывать на лету́ (sxvátyvatʹ na letú), and, for another aspect, быть на подхва́те (bytʹ na podxváte) (both akin to хвата́ть (xvatátʹ)).

Forms

apprentices apprentise

Related

journeyman masterman master trainee

Derived

apprenticehood apprenticelike apprenticeship seaman apprentice sorcerer's apprentice

Verb

  1. To put under the care and supervision of a master, for the purpose of instruction in a trade or business.
    • His father had apprenticed him to a silk merchant.
    • He was apprenticed to a local employer.
    • Early in his career, Trump apprenticed himself to Roy Cohn, an unprincipled lawyer who taught the young Trump how to gain wealth and influence through ruthless bullying, profane braggadocio, opportunistic bigotry,...
  2. To be an apprentice to.
    • Joe apprenticed three different photographers before setting up his own studio.

Forms

apprentices apprenticing apprenticed apprentise