proselytize

The word's journey begins with the Greek prosēlytos, meaning "one who has arrived," specifically a foreigner who has come to settle and, in a religious context, a convert to Judaism. This term itself is built from pros- (toward) and the root of ēlythen (aorist of erchomai, to come). Entering English in the 14th century as "proselyte" to denote a convert, the verb "proselytize" was formed in the 17th century by adding the productive suffix -ize, which means "to make, become, or practice." Thus, the literal logic of the morphemes—"to make (someone) a newcomer (to a belief)"—evolved into the modern abstract meaning of actively seeking to convert others to a different faith, doctrine, or cause.

Structure: proselyt (convert) + ize (verb-forming suffix) proselyt (from Greek prosēlytos, meaning a newcomer, convert); ize (verb-forming suffix from Greek -izein, via Latin -izare and French -iser).