different between proselytize vs preach

English

Alternative forms

• proselytise (British)

Etymology

proselyte +? -ize

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p??s.?l.?.ta?z/, /?p??s.?l.?.ta?z/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p??.s?.l?.ta?z/, /?p??.s?.l?.ta?z/
  • (Canada) (in addition to the above:) IPA^(key): /?p??.z?.l?.ta?z/, /?p??.z?.l?.ta?z/

Verb

proselytize (third-person singular simple present proselytizes, present participle proselytizing, simple past and past participle proselytized)

1. (transitive, intransitive) 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

   • 1796, Edmund Burke, a letter to a noble lord

     One of these [people] whom they endeavour to proselytize.

   • 1909, Ralph Connor, The Foreigner, ch. 14:

     “I am not sent here to proselytize. My church is not in that business.”

   • 2001, Douglas Waller, “A Terror Threat From The South”, Time, 10 Dec.:

     Counterterrorism officials believe bin Laden has set up cells to proselytize the large Middle East expatriate population living in the area.

2. (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

Related terms

• proselyte
• proselytism

Translations

Further reading

• “proselytize”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

English

Etymology

From Middle English prechen, from Old French prëechier, precchier (Modern French prêcher), from Latin praedic?. Doublet of predicate.

The Latin word is also the source of Old English predician (“to preach”), Saterland Frisian preetje (“to preach”), West Frisian preekje (“to preach”), Dutch preken (“to preach”), German Low German preken (“to preach”), German predigen (“to preach”), Danish prædike (“to preach”), Swedish predika (“to preach”), Icelandic prédika (“to preach”), Norwegian Nynorsk preika (“to preach”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?i?t??/
• Rhymes: -i?t?

Verb

preach (third-person singular simple present preaches, present participle preaching, simple past and past participle preached or (nonstandard) praught)

1. (intransitive) To give a sermon.

   A learned local Muslim used to preach in the small mosque every Friday.

2. (transitive) To proclaim by public discourse; to utter in a sermon or a formal religious harangue.

   • The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek.

3. (transitive) To advise or recommend earnestly.
4. (transitive) To teach or instruct by preaching; to inform by preaching.
   • 1801, Robert Southey, Thalaba the Destroyer

     The Spirits of the Dead, / Quitting their mortal mansion, enter not, / As ye are preached, their final seat / Of bliss, or bale.

5. (intransitive) To give advice in an offensive or obtrusive manner.

Derived terms

• preacher
• preachy

Related terms

• practice what one preaches, practise what one preaches
• preach to the choir
• preach to the converted

Translations

See also

• praught

Noun

preach (plural preaches)

1. (obsolete) A religious discourse.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Hooker to this entry?)

Anagrams

• eparch, pearch