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baptism definition

bap·tism (bap′tiz′əm)

noun

  1. a baptizing or being baptized; specif., the ceremony or sacrament of admitting a person into Christianity or a specific Christian church by immersing the individual in water or by pouring or sprinkling water on the individual, as a symbol of washing away sin and of spiritual purification
  2. any experience or ordeal that initiates, tests, or purifies

Etymology: ME & OFr baptesme < LL(Ec) baptisma, Christian baptism < L, a dipping under < Gr < baptizein: see baptize

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

baptism Synonyms

baptism

n.

immersion, dedication, christening, ablution, initiation, lustration, ritual, rite, baptismal regeneration, rebirth, sprinkling, infant baptism, dunking*; see also sacrament 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

baptism Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • preach: A Baptism of Repentance John is preaching a baptism of repentance as did the Essenes.

Adjective modifier

  • infant: In the case of infant baptism many of these parents want to do the right thing by their child.

Modifies a noun

  • register: The baptism register transcript says her first name was Jessie, not Jane.

Noun used with modifier

  • infant: In my part of the church infant baptism is common.

Possessives

  • believer: Baptists do not practice ' adult ' baptism; they practice ' believers ' baptism.

Preposition: in

  • spirit: Noel: You bring people through to baptism in the Spirit?

Preposition: of

  • repentance: John preaches " a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins " .

Preposition: for

  • remission: I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.

Preposition: by

  • immersion: The baptism may or may not have beena baptism by immersion.
baptism usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

baptism quotes

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them,O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

-Bible (NewTestament)

Deep, unspeakable suffering may well be called a baptism, a regeneration, the initiation into a new state.

-Eliot, George pseudonym of  MaryAnn Evans

baptism quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"baptism." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/baptism>

APA Style

baptism. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/baptism

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