The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Novice \Nov"ice\, a.
   Like a novice; becoming a novice. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Novice \Nov"ice\, n. [F., from L. novicius, novitius, new, from
   novus new. See New, and cf. Novitious.]
   1. One who is new in any business, profession, or calling;
      one unacquainted or unskilled; one yet in the rudiments; a
      beginner; a tyro.
      [1913 Webster]

            I am young; a novice in the trade.    --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. One newly received into the church, or one newly converted
      to the Christian faith. --1 Tim. iii. 6.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Eccl.) One who enters a religious house, whether of monks
      or nuns, as a probationist. --Shipley.
      [1913 Webster]

            No poore cloisterer, nor no novys.    --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

novice
    n 1: someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken
         final vows [syn: novitiate, novice]
    2: someone new to a field or activity [syn: novice,
       beginner, tyro, tiro, initiate]