Baptism Meaning
/ˈbæptɪzəm/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA Christian sacrament, by which one is received into a church and sometimes given a name, generally involving the candidate to be anointed with or submerged in water.
nounA similar ceremony of initiation, purification or naming.
Sentence Examples
Baptists reject infant baptism.
I have to go to my cousin's baptism.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The priest performed the ____ in the river for the new believer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The family gathered at the church for the young baby's ____ today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English bapteme, baptesme, from Old French batesme or bapteme, from Ecclesiastical Latin, Late Latin baptisma, from Ancient Greek βάπτισμα (báptisma, “dipping, baptism”), from βαπτίζω (baptízō, “I dip in liquid”). Displaced native Old English fulwiht.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Whereas Landon Carter was disgusted with his overseer's proselytizing in 1776, his nephew Robert, who originally shared his skepticism, saw the light in 1778, converted to Baptism himself, and spent much of the next decade encouraging his slaves to follow suit — much to the annoyance of several of his overseers."
— 2009, Peter Kolchin, Unfree Labor, page 220:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The priest performed the ____ in the river for the new believer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The family gathered at the church for the young baby's ____ today.