baptize

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled baptised

US /ˈbæpˌtaɪz/ UK /bæpˈtaɪz/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to admit to Christianity by ceremonial sprinkling or immersion in water

The priest will baptize the infant on Sunday morning.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to admit to christianity by... christen cleanse name immerse sprinkle

Word family

Derived forms baptizerbaptizedbaptizing

Related forms baptismbaptistbaptismalbaptistery

Etymology

From Old French baptiser, from Late Latin baptizare, from Ancient Greek baptizein ('to dip, immerse'), from baptein ('to dip').

baptizare Late Latin baptizein Ancient Greek baptein Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# baptize

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈbæpˌtaɪz/
**IPA (UK):** /bæpˈtaɪz/

## Meanings
1. to admit to Christianity by ceremonial sprinkling or immersion in water

## Examples
- The priest will baptize the infant on Sunday morning.

## Synonyms
- christen
- cleanse
- name
- immerse
- sprinkle

## Derived Forms
- baptizer
- baptized
- baptizing

## Related Forms
- baptism
- baptist
- baptismal
- baptistery

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: baptizare
- Root: baptizein
- Root: baptein

## Etymology
From Old French baptiser, from Late Latin baptizare, from Ancient Greek baptizein ('to dip, immerse'), from baptein ('to dip').

## AI Etymology
baptize comes from Old French baptiser, from Late Latin baptizare, from Ancient Greek baptizein ('to dip, immerse'), from baptein ('to dip'). The path is chiefly one of transmission: an older form is taken into English, with the word's shape and meaning carried through the language names and forms preserved in the history. In modern use, the verb sense is "to admit to Christianity by ceremonial sprinkling or immersion in water", which keeps the etymology connected to the word's present dictionary value rather than treating it as a merely historical label. The wider word family includes related English forms such as baptism, baptist, baptismal, baptistery and derivatives such as baptizer, baptized, baptizing, showing how the same base continues to support neighboring English vocabulary. The principal historical forms in the chain include Late Latin baptizare, Ancient Greek baptizein, Ancient Greek baptein, which anchor the explanation in named linguistic material.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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