christen

Meaning

  1. (transitive) To perform the religious rite of baptism upon; to baptize.
  2. (broadly, transitive) 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.

Frequency

28k
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈkɹɪsən/
Etymology

In summary

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

Notes

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