baptize

English

Alternative forms

• baptise (non-Oxford British English)

Etymology

From Middle English baptisen, baptizen, from Old French baptiser, batisier, from Ecclesiastical Latin, Late Latin baptizāre, from Ancient Greek βαπτίζω (baptízō, “to immerse, plunge, baptize”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbæptaɪz/
  • (US) IPA^(key):
  • (Ghana) IPA^(key):

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: bap‧tize

Verb

baptize (third-person singular simple present baptizes, present participle baptizing, simple past and past participle baptized)

1. (Christianity) To perform the sacrament of baptism by sprinkling or pouring water over someone or immersing them in water.

   Synonyms: christen, full

2. To dedicate or christen.
3. (archaic, slang) Of rum, brandy, or any other spirits, to dilute with water.
   • 1965, The Road to Santiago: Pilgrims of St. James, page 194:

     There's a good tavern nearby where they don't baptize liquor!

   • 1973, Robert Speaight, Shakespeare on the Stage:

     In 1833 Charles Kingsley wrote of the Royal Victora Hall in the Waterloo Road as 'a licensed pit of darkness'. The darkness remained unrelieved until, in 1880, Miss Emma Cons took over the lease and baptized the drinks that were served at the bar and the songs that were sung on the stage.

   • 2007, Walter Scott Dunn, Choosing Sides on the Frontier in the American Revolution, →ISBN, page 91:

     The general practice in the West Indies was to baptize, add color, and otherwise adulterate rum to make it appear better.

4. (slang) To ensure proper burning of a joint by moistening the exterior with saliva.
5. (slang) To extinguish the life of.

   Synonyms: wax, wet, juice up; see also Thesaurus:kill

   • 2022 April 26, “Bad for Business”, OTM ft. Young Bull (lyrics), 1:21:

     Nigga actin tough on the net, Imma baptize him, .223 shells and he’s shot like I am Mad Ryan
     Put him in a coffin, hold him one year, he is no longer
     Fucking on an opp nigger, bitch he sayin “go longer!”

   • 2023 September 28, “Block Boy”, #Sinsquad Stewie (lyrics)‎, 1:58:

     I'm on frontstreet over them sides
     Catch an opp lackin', leave him baptised
     Bro up the Glock, don't freeze
     Big rambo, inject with ease (Wet that)

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

References

Middle English

Etymology 1

Noun

baptize

1. Alternative form of bapteme

Etymology 2

Verb

baptize

1. Alternative form of baptisen

Portuguese

Verb

baptize

1. inflection of baptizar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative