Added 10 October 2026
baptism
/ˈbæptɪzəm/ noun
Latin root: baptisma Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about baptism at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
A Christian sacrament, by which one is received into a church and sometimes given a name, generally involving the candidate to be anointed with or submerged in water.
The child’s baptism was held at the old church.
- A similar ceremony of initiation, purification or naming.
- The moment at which an object is first assigned a proper name.
Origin
From Middle English bapteme, baptesme, from Old French batesme or bapteme, from Ecclesiastical Latin, Late Latin baptisma, from Ancient Greek βάπτισμα (báptisma, “dipping, baptism”), from βαπτίζω (baptízō, “I dip in liquid”). Displaced native Old English fulwiht.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)