baptism Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth
    • most churches baptize infants but some insist on adult baptism

WordNet

Bap"tism noun
Etymology
OE. baptim, baptem, OE. baptesme, batisme, F. baptême, L. baptisma, fr. Gr. , fr. to baptize, fr. to dip in water, akin to deep, Skr. gah to dip, bathe, v. i.
Definitions
  1. The act of baptizing; the application of water to a person, as a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the visible church of Christ. This is performed by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring.

Webster 1913