Cat"e*chu`men (?), n. [L. catechunenus, Gr. &?; instructed, from &?;. See Catechise.] (Eccl.) One who is receiving rudimentary instruction in the doctrines of Christianity; a neophyte; in the primitive church, one officially recognized as a Christian, and admitted to instruction preliminary to admission to full membership in the church.

• a convert to Christianity under instruction before baptism; a young Christian preparing for confirmation
       *1963: Here in this room an old man had killed and boiled a catechumen, had committed sodomy with a rat, had discussed a rodent nunhood with V., a future saint – depending which story you listened to. — Thomas Pynchon, V.