baptist

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbæptɪst/; /ˈbæbtɪst/, /ˈbæbdɪs(t)/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English baptiste, borrowed from Old French baptiste,^[2][3] from Ecclesiastical Latin baptista,^[2][3] from Ancient Greek βαπτιστής (baptistḗs, “one who baptizes”), from βαπτίζω (baptízō, “to immerse, baptize”) (see baptize).^[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

One who baptizes, especially John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ: about 1200.^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

A member of the Protestant body holding that baptism should be given only to believers, generally by full immersion, is attested from 1654;^[4][5] their opponents called them Anabaptists.^[4] The adjective use is from 1717.^[5][2]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – one who baptizes, John the Baptist.^[4][5]
• 1654 – a member of the Baptist church.^[4][5]
• 1717 – Baptist (adjective).^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A member of a Protestant church that practises baptism only of believers, usually by full immersion.
2. A person who baptizes; the Baptist, John the Baptist.

Adjective

1. Relating to the Baptist churches.

Related words

• Anabaptism
• anabaptist
• baptism
• baptistery
• baptistry
• baptize
• Catabaptist
• pedobaptism
• pedobaptist
• rebaptism
• rebaptize

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
3. ^ a b c Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press