baptism
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
baptism/ˈbaptɪzəm/
▶noun the Christian rite of sprinkling water on to a person's forehead or of immersing them in water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian Church.
– phrases
baptism of fire a difficult introduction to a new job or experience.
baptism of fire a difficult introduction to a new job or experience.
– derivatives
baptismal adjective.
baptismal adjective.
– origin ME: from OFr. baptesme, via eccles. L. from eccles. Gk baptismos, from Gk baptizein ‘immerse, baptize’.
'baptism' also found in these Oxford entries:
amrit
- Anabaptism
- aspersion
- baptismal name
- baptist
- baptistery
- baptize
- catechesis
- catechumen
- chrismation
- chrisom
- christen
- Christian
- Christian name
- first name
- font
- godparent
- -ism
- Mennonite
- Morisco
- Pentecostal
- sacrament
- sponsor
