apprentice

 
Pronunciation: /əˈprɛntɪs/

noun

  • a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer, having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages: [as modifier]: an apprentice electrician
  • [usually as modifier] a beginner: an apprentice barman

verb

[with object] (usually be apprenticed to)
  • employ (someone) as an apprentice: Edward was apprenticed to a printer
  • [no object] North American serve as an apprentice: she apprenticed with midwives in San Francisco

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French aprentis (from apprendre 'learn', from Latin apprehendere 'apprehend'), on the pattern of words ending in -tis, -tif, from Latin -tivus (see -ive)