baptism
/ˈbaptɪz(ə)m
/noun [mass noun]
1The Christian religious 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. In many denominations, baptism is performed on young children and is accompanied by name-giving: the sacrament of baptism...
- One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Native Baptist church is immersion baptism.
- She was also known to mock the holy sacrament of baptism by sprinkling water on her mother's head and reciting the appropriate words.
- Given that the church was a state church, the view was that one could not make a purely religious act such as baptism a requirement for church membership.
Synonyms
christening, naming, immersion, sprinkling
rare lustration
1.1 [count noun] A ceremony or occasion at which baptism takes place: weddings, funerals, and baptisms are carried out in the parish church...
- Rites of passage include major Catholic ceremonies such as baptisms, first communion, marriage and funerals.
- Recently seven baptisms took place and evangelisation of two neighbouring villages is under way.
- Other attractions around the town will include a display at Keighley Shared Church of the town's original register of weddings, baptisms and funerals, and a letter from John Wesley.
1.2A person’s initiation into a particular activity or role, typically one perceived as difficult: this event constituted his baptism as a politician...
- Deora started writing a column in a Mumbai publication in preparation for his political baptism.
Synonyms
initiation, debut, introduction, inauguration, launch, beginning, rite of passage;
French rite de passage
formal commencement
Phrases
baptism of fire
Origin
Middle English: from Old French baptesme, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek baptismos 'ceremonial washing', from baptizein 'immerse, baptize'.