transitive verb baptized -·tized′, baptizing -·tiz′·ing

1. to immerse (an individual) in water, or pour or sprinkle water over (the individual), as a symbol of admission into Christianity or a specific Christian church
2. to subject to an initiation or an ordeal that purifies or cleanses
3. to give a first name to as part of the baptismal ceremony; christen

Etymology: 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 base *gwēbh-, to dip, plunge > ON kvefja, to plunge

intransitive verb