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Christen: meaning, definitions and examples

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christen

 

[ ˈkrɪs.ən ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

religious ceremony

To christen is to give someone a name during a religious ceremony, particularly in the context of baptism in Christian traditions. This act often symbolizes a blessing and the initiation of the individual into the faith community. Additionally, christening can denote the naming of ships or other vessels as a ritual of good fortune. The term imparted in this context suggests a ceremonial and significant importance associated with the naming process.

Synonyms

baptize, bless, dedicate, name

Examples of usage

  • They decided to christen their newborn daughter during the church service.
  • He was christened in a beautiful ceremony by the priest.
  • The couple chose to christen their new boat before launching it into the water.

Translations

Translations of the word "christen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 batizar

🇮🇳 बपतिस्मा देना

🇩🇪 taufen

🇮🇩 membaptis

🇺🇦 хрестити

🇵🇱 chrzcić

🇯🇵 洗礼を施す

🇫🇷 baptiser

🇪🇸 bautizar

🇹🇷 vaftiz etmek

🇰🇷 세례를 주다

🇸🇦 يُعَمِّد

🇨🇿 křtít

🇸🇰 krstiť

🇨🇳 洗礼

🇸🇮 krstiti

🇮🇸 skírna

🇰🇿 сүндеттеу

🇬🇪 მნათობი

🇦🇿 bətniz etmək

🇲🇽 bautizar

Etymology

The word 'christen' originates from the Old English term 'crystenian,' meaning to make a Christian or baptize, which itself is derived from 'Crist' or 'Christ.' This evolution of the term reflects its strong ties to early Christian practices and the importance of names in religious traditions. In the earliest usage, christening was closely associated with baptism, and over the centuries, the term's application broadened to include naming rituals for children, ships, and significant occasions. The use of christening ceremonies has varied among cultures, often symbolizing the introduction of a person into a community or honoring a vessel before its maiden voyage. Thus, christen has retained a sense of ceremonial significance, representing both the act of naming and the blessings that accompany such events.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,531 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.