noviciate

A flourish of trumpets followed, while the margrave, with the flat of his sword, touched the noviciate three times on the shoulder.

From The Childhood of King Erik Menved An Historical Romance by Ingemann, Bernhard Severin

Hence a universal Pythagorean noviciate would, sooner or later, give rise to epidemics, and Chartreuses of nuns would become pesthouses.

From Flower, Fruit, and Thorn Pieces; or, the Wedded Life, Death, and Marriage of Firmian Stanislaus Siebenkaes, Parish Advocate in the Burgh of Kuhschnappel. by Jean Paul

Days slowly elapsed without intelligence of Fido, and the arrangements became gradually completed by which, upon the Festival of All Saints, Fidunia was to enter her noviciate.

From Baron Bruno Or, the Unbelieving Philosopher, and Other Fairy Stories by Morgan, Louisa

After four years of such instruction, his father's death called him home to inherit his property, and he spent the three years that followed by tourneying in the noviciate of knighthood.

From Studies in Medi?val Life and Literature by McLaughlin, Edward Tompkins

Admission to the Society was attended by a variety of ceremonies; a protracted noviciate followed, and it was only by progressive advancement that any were promoted to the higher dignities.

From The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead Vol. II by Frazer, James George, Sir