baptize — c.1300, from O.Fr. batisier (11c.), from L. baptizare, from Gk. baptizein to immerse, to dip in water, also used figuratively, e.g. to be over one s head (in debt, etc.), to be soaked (in wine); in Greek Christian usage, baptize; from baptein to… … Etymology dictionary
baptize — baptize, christen mean to make one a Christian or to admit one to a Christian communion by a ceremony in which water is poured or sprinkled on the head or in which the body is immersed in water. Baptize is at once the precise and the general term … New Dictionary of Synonyms
baptize — (also baptise) ► VERB 1) administer baptism to. 2) give a name or nickname to. ORIGIN Greek baptizein immerse, baptize … English terms dictionary
baptize — [bap tīz′, bap′tīz] vt. baptized, baptizing [ME baptisen < OFr baptiser < LL(Ec) baptizare < Gr baptizein, to immerse, baptize, substituted for earlier baptein, to dip (used in post classical Gr chiefly in sense “to dip in dye”) < IE… … English World dictionary
baptize — (Amer.) bap·tize || bæp taɪz v. perform ceremony of baptism by immersing in water (Christian ritual symbolizing admittance into the church); give a name to person during the ceremony of baptism (also baptise) … English contemporary dictionary
baptize — [v] initiate in church rite admit, asperse, besprinkle, call, christen, cleanse, denominate, dip, dub, entitle, immerse, name, purify, regenerate, sprinkle, term, title; concept 367 … New thesaurus
baptize — [13] The underlying notion of baptize is of ‘dipping’, as those baptized were originally (and sometimes still are) immersed in water. It comes from Greek báptein ‘dip’, whose derivative baptízein ‘baptize’ passed via Latin baptizāre and Old… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
baptize — UK [ˌbæpˈtaɪz] / US [bæpˈtaɪz] verb [transitive, usually passive] Word forms baptize : present tense I/you/we/they baptize he/she/it baptizes present participle baptizing past tense baptized past participle baptized 1) to welcome someone into the … English dictionary
baptize — [13] The underlying notion of baptize is of ‘dipping’, as those baptized were originally (and sometimes still are) immersed in water. It comes from Greek báptein ‘dip’, whose derivative baptízein ‘baptize’ passed via Latin baptizāre and Old… … Word origins
baptize — also baptise verb (baptized; also baptised; baptizing; also baptising) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French baptiser, from Late Latin baptizare, from Greek baptizein to dip, baptize, from baptein to dip, dye; akin to Old Norse kvefja to… … New Collegiate Dictionary
