christen

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See also: Christen

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English cristenen, cristnien, from Old English cristnian (“to christen, baptise”), from Old English cristen (“Christen, Christian”) +‎ -nian. Cognate with Dutch kerstenen (“to christen”), Middle Low German kristenen, kerstenen, karstenen (“to christen”), Danish kristne (“to christen”) Swedish kristna (“to christen”), Icelandic kristna (“to christen”).

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

christen (third-person singular simple present christens, present participle christening, simple past and past participle christened)

  1. To perform the religious act of the baptism, to baptise.
    The new baby was christened at the village church.
  2. To name.
    I christen this ship the Bonny Barnacle.
    • (Can we date this quote by Bishop Burnet and provide title, author's full name, and other details?)
      Christen the thing what you will.
  3. (obsolete) To Christianize.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Jeremy Taylor to this entry?)
  4. (colloquial) To use for the first time.
    I christened my new boots today with a walk in the snow.

Translations[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Dutch[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle Dutch cristen, variant of kersten, from Old Dutch [Term?], from Latin Christiānus, from Ancient Greek Χρῑστιᾱνός (Khrīstiānós). The current Dutch spelling has been influenced by the Latin and subsequently also the Greek words.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈkrɪs.tən/
  • (some orthodox Protestants) IPA(key): /ˈxrɪs.tən/
  • Audio
    		(file)
  • Hyphenation: chris‧ten

Noun[edit]

christen m (plural christenen, diminutive christentje n, feminine christin)

  1. Christian

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

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