The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Novitiate \No*vi"ti*ate\, n. [LL. novitiatus: cf. F. noviciat.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The state of being a novice; time of initiation or
      instruction in rudiments.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence: The time of probation in a religious house before
      taking the vows.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. One who is going through a novitiate, or period of
      probation; a novice. --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. The place where novices live or are trained. [R.]
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

novitiate
    n 1: the period during which you are a novice (especially in a
         religious order) [syn: novitiate, noviciate]
    2: someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken
       final vows [syn: novitiate, novice]