christen

Meanings

1. To perform the religious rite of baptism upon; to baptize.
2. To name.
3. To Christianize.
4. To use for the first time.
5. To douse or wet with blood, urine, tears, or other liquid.

1. Obsolete form of Christian.

1. Obsolete form of Christian.

Etymology

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