Humor will not be tolerated!! -Portia

Which is it: missionaries "proselyte" or missionaries "proselytize"? Is one *more* correct?

Discuss.

I think either one is correct. I prefer 'proselyte.' 'Proselytize' always sounded a little weird to me, but I'm becoming more used to it.

Missionaries proselytize.

Proselytes go on missions.

This according to the extremely trustworthy Wikipedia articles on each subject.

According to a quick search on Google News, "to proselytize" is much preferred to "to proselyte." 66 to 2. But that doesn't mean I have to think it sounds good to say it.

I say proselyting. I think proselytizing sounds ridiculous. I have a pet peeve when people say that they're disorientated instead of disoriented, and my preference in this case seems like a corollary to that (even though I know they're not very similar in actuality). It's a personal thing, I guess.

Proselytize is the correct and original form; as was pointed out, a proselyte is a "new convert". People have used the term incorrectly, and hence to "proselyte" has come into existence, but it is the late comer, not the original.

thanks laser jock for taking the time to answer!