Etymologically
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baptist

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 16:21. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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.
  • 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