Dictionary

baptize en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈbæptaɪz/
• (Australia) audio
• [ˈbæp.tajz] (US)
• [bapˈtajz] Ghana

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”).

Meanings

1. (British, English, Oxford, US) To perform the sacrament of baptism by sprinkling or pouring water over someone or immersing them in water.
   • I vvas baptized in thy Cordiall vvater, againſt Original ſinne, and I haue drunke of thy Cordiall Blood, for my recouerie, from actuall, and habituall ſinne, in the other Sacrament. 1624, John Donne, “11. Prayer.”, in Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, pages 280–281:
2. (British, English, Oxford, US, figuratively) To Christianize.
   • Ample evidence for this transfer of divine imagery can be found in early Christian times, when the Mother of God took over the titles, shrines, iconography and power of the great mother goddess of the Mediterranean world. This "baptizing" of pagan imagery was a successful missionary strategy that allowed Christianity to attract peoples accustomed to female deities while still maintaining faith in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit 2000 June 17, Elizabeth A. Johnson, “Mary of Nazareth: Friend of God and Prophet”, in America, volume 182, number 21:
3. (British, English, Oxford, US) To dedicate or christen.
4. (British, English, Oxford, US, archaic, slang) Of rum, brandy, or any other spirits, to dilute with water.
   • There's a good tavern nearby where they don't baptize liquor! 1965, The Road to Santiago: Pilgrims of St. James, page 194:
   • The general practice in the West Indies was to baptize, add color, and otherwise adulterate rum to make it appear better. 2007, Walter Scott Dunn, Choosing Sides on the Frontier in the American Revolution, →ISBN, page 91:
   • 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. 1973, Robert Speaight, Shakespeare on the Stage:
5. (British, English, Oxford, US, slang) To ensure proper burning of a joint by moistening the exterior with saliva.
6. (British, English, Oxford, US, slang) To extinguish the life of.
   • 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!” 2022 April 26, “Bad for Business”, OTM ft. Young Bull (lyrics), 1:21:
   • 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) 2023 September 28, “Block Boy”, #Sinsquad Stewie (lyrics), 1:58:

Forms

Deriveds

debaptize · baptizing · baptizement · baptizer · unbaptize · baptizable · baptizand · baptizee · rebaptize

Descendants

papekiko · baptaiz

Relateds

baptism · anabaptize · baptist · baptization · baptistry

Synonyms

put down · send to eternity · send to the great beyond · take · wet · stop someone's clock · flatten · polish off · destroy · wax · take care of · stiff · snuff · deactivate · terminate with extreme prejudice · eradicate · send to the next life · put an end to · bag · ex · bring down · take down · do · wet · neutralize · smash · off · pay off · squash · wreck · wax · dash · scupper · blight · mortify · obliterate · lay waste to · baptize · do in · send to the grave · crush · dead · ravage · torpedo · whack · ruin · top · croak · shut up · merc · grease · dust · pick off · bereave of life · pop off · compromised to a permanent end · dispose of · eliminate · full · top off · bury · slaughter · knock off · slime out · punch someone's ticket · christen · scuttle · slay · make away with · finish off · smite · take out · waste · dispatch · demolish · exterminate · put someone out of their misery · finish · terminate · scotch · wipe out · put to sleep · juice up · put six feet under · cack · rub out · annihilate · end · bump off · send to hell

Translations (105)

grc βαπτίζω (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · it battezzare (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · tl binyagan (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ka მონათვლა (to dedicate or christen) · ht batize (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · sc batiare (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · es baptizar (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ru окрести́ть (to dedicate or christen) · fi jatkaa (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · ka ნათლავს (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · wa batijhî (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · cmn 施浸 (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · cs křtít (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · gcr batizé (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · scn battiari (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · da døbe (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ny -batiza (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · fr couper (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · hy մկրտել (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · fi kastaa (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · hy մկրտել (to dedicate or christen) · gl bautizar (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ka მონათლავს (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · chr ᎦᏬᎠ (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ka მონათვლა (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · mi iriiri (to dedicate or christen) · fi ristiä (to dedicate or christen) · no utvanne (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · sw -batiza (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · mfe batize (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · gl bautizar (to dedicate or christen) · fur batiâ (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · bg покръствам (to dedicate or christen) · haw papekema (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · sc batiài (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · la baptīzō (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · got 𐌳𐌰𐌿𐍀𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to dedicate or christen) · de taufen (to dedicate or christen) · wa batijhî (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · fi laimentaa (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · cy bedyddio (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · mi iriiri (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · pt batizar (to dedicate or christen) · ro boteza (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · cs křtít (to dedicate or christen) · sc batigiare (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · la baptīzō (to dedicate or christen) · fr baptiser (to dedicate or christen) · swb uɓaîsha (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · pl chrzcić (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · sq pagëzoj (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · fa تعمید کردن (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · yue 施洗 (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · no døpe (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · bg кръщавам (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · hrx daafe (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ar عَمَّدَ (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ga baist (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · sv döpa (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · eu bataiatu (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · hu megkeresztel (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · fo doypa (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · wa ribatijhî (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · ca batiar (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · es bautizar (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ba суҡындырыу (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ru крести́ть (to dedicate or christen) · kea botisa (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ast bautizar (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · jam baptaiz (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · no vanne ut (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · ang fulwian (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · he הִטְבִּיל (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · sv blanda ut (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · ka ნათვლა (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · nrf bâptîsi (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · nl dopen (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · oc batejar (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · yue 施浸 (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · de taufen (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · fr baptiser (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ru крести́ть (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · cmn 施洗 (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · rup pãtedz (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ca batejar (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · got 𐌳𐌰𐌿𐍀𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · kea butezá (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · haw papekiko (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · eo bapti (to dedicate or christen) · kea batiza (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · ru окрести́ть (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · pt batizar (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · hu keresztel (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · es echar el agua (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · wa batijhî (to dedicate or christen) · bg кръщавам (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · et ristima (to dedicate or christen) · quc qasaxik ja' (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · fr baptiser (of rum, brandy, or any other spirits: to dilute with water) · vo blunedön (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · eo bapti (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · el βαπτίζω (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · sga baithsid (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism) · vo blunedön (to dedicate or christen) · gd baist (to perform the Christian sacrament of baptism)