Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “baptize” come from?

Baptize comes from Middle English baptisen, from Old French baptiser, from Ancient Greek βαπτίζω meaning to immerse or dip, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷeh₂bʰ-.

baptize (English): To perform the sacrament of baptism by sprinkling...

Definitions

  1. To perform the sacrament of baptism by sprinkling...

Ancestry of “baptize”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishbaptisenTo baptise, christen; To receive a baptism; To...
2Old Frenchbaptiser—
3Late LatinbaptizoI baptize
4Ancient Greekβαπτίζωto dip, plunge; to immerse; to drown, sink
5Ancient GreekβάπτωI dip, submerge; I dye, colour; I baptise
6Proto-Hellenicgʷápťō—
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʷh₂bʰ-yé-ti—
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʷeh₂bʰ-to dive, dive in

Words derived from “baptize”

  • baptizer
  • baptizeth
  • rebaptize
  • unbaptize
  • baptizable
  • rebaptizer
  • debaptize
  • baptizement
  • papatais
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷeh₂bʰ- →