christen

Meaning

1. To perform the religious act of baptism upon; to baptize.
2. To name.
3. (obsolete) To Christianize.
4. (colloquial) To use for the first time.
5. (informal) To douse or wet with blood, urine, tears, or other liquid.

Synonyms

baptize

baptise

name

dub

dabble

designate

dip

douse

cross

duck

🦆

dunk

Christianise

puddle

sop

souse

give a name

give a name to

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkɹɪsən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: cristenen

Inherited from Old English: cristnian

Cognate with Dutch: kerstenen

Cognate with Middle Low German: kristenen

Cognate with Danish: kristne

Cognate with Swedish: kristna

Cognate with Icelandic: kristna

In summary

From Middle English cristenen, cristnien, from Old English cristnian (“to christen, baptise”), from cristen (“Christen, Christian”) + -nian. Cognate with Dutch kerstenen (“to christen”), Middle Low German kristenen, kerstenen, karstenen (“to christen”), Danish kristne (“to christen”) Swedish kristna (“to christen”), Icelandic kristna (“to christen”).