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DictionaryRoot: cristnian
Old English

cristnian

to baptize, make Christian

1 / 1
At a small boat-christening ceremony, an older man breaks a ceremonial bottle against the boat’s bow while a young woman beside him applauds.
verb

christen

KRIS-en/ˈkrɪsn/

To mark the beginning of use or membership through naming or baptism.

Etymology
christenOld Englishto baptize, make Christian

Cristnian meant to baptize, literally to make Christian. Because baptism included giving an infant a name, the verb broadened to naming someone or something without requiring baptism.

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