baptism : Idioms & Phrases


Blood baptism

  • (Eccl. Hist.), the martyrdom of those who had not been baptized. They were considered as baptized in blood, and this was regarded as a full substitute for literal baptism.
Webster 1913

Clinical baptism

  • baptism administered to a person on a sick bed.
Webster 1913

Hypothetical baptism

  • (Ch. of Eng.), baptism administered to persons in respect to whom it is doubtful whether they have or have not been baptized before.
Webster 1913

Lay baptism

  • (Eccl.), baptism administered by a lay person. F. G. Lee.
Webster 1913