baptism

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English bapteme, later baptisme,^[2][3][4] borrowed from Old French baptesme, also batesme,^[4][5][6] which the Anglo-Norman Dictionary records from 1120–40.^[7] The French word is a semi-popular adaptation of Ecclesiastical Latin baptismus and baptisma,^[4][8][5] from Ancient Greek βαπτισμός (baptismós, “ceremonial washing”) and βάπτισμα (báptisma, “a dipping; baptism”),^[4][8][9] nouns from βαπτίζω (baptízō, “to dip, immerse; to baptize”),^[4][9] from βάπτω (báptō, “to dip, steep, dye”).^[9][2][10] Klein and Barnhart compare Old Norse kvefja (“to press under, plunge”),^[9][2] and Ayto kafa (“to dive”).^[10] The spelling with -s- was restored after Latin and Greek, from the late 14th century in Etymonline and in the 16th century according to the OED.^[5][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Christian rite of baptism: about 1303, as bapteme in Mannyng's Handlyng Synne, according to Barnhart.^[2] The OED's first date is 1377.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Before the French word arrived the rite was called Old English fulluht, and John the Baptist was se Fulluhtere.^[5][11] The figurative use, for any ceremonial cleansing, initiation or dedication, dates from the late 14th century, in the Wycliffite Bible,^[4][5] and the phrase baptism of blood was applied to the martyrdom of unbaptized believers.^[4] Baptism of fire was at first an ecclesiastical term for the grace of the Holy Spirit imparted through baptism, and later for martyrdom, especially by burning;^[5][4] from 1857 it was used of a soldier's first experience of battle, translating French baptême de feu.^[5][4] Johnson (1755) defined baptism as an outward washing of the body that signifies the washing of the soul from original sin.^[12]

Timeline

• c. 1303 – bapteme, in Mannyng's Handlyng Synne.^[2]
• 1357 – the form baptisme.^[2]
• 1377 – first date in the OED.^[4]
• c. 1384 – the rite, and figurative use, in the Wycliffite Bible.^[4]
• 1857 – baptism of fire, a soldier's first battle.^[5][4]

Meanings

Noun

1. A Christian sacrament or rite in which a person is immersed in or sprinkled with water as a sign of cleansing from sin and admission into the church.^[3][13][4]
2. The act of baptizing or of being baptized.^[13][4]
3. Any experience that initiates, purifies or dedicates someone: Her first week on the night shift was a hard baptism.^[13][3][4]
4. baptism of fire: a soldier's first experience of battle; any first, testing ordeal.^[5][4]

Word family

• baptismal
• baptismally
• anabaptism
• pedobaptism
• rebaptism
• baptism for the dead
• baptism of fire

Related words

• anabaptist
• baptize
• baptist
• baptistery
• baptistry
• pedobaptist
• rebaptize

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ Stevenson, Angus, ed. (2010), Oxford Dictionary of English, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
8. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
9. ^ a b c d Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
10. ^ a b Ayto, John (2005), Word Origins: The Secret Histories of English Words from A to Z, 2nd ed., London: A & C Black
11. ^ Bosworth, Joseph; Toller, T. Northcote (1898), An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press; Toller, T. Northcote (1921), Supplement
12. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.
13. ^ a b c Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins