baptizer

Variant of baptize

transitive verb baptized, baptizing

  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

Origin: 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

to administer baptism

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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