baptism

plural baptisms

1. countableuncountableChristianityA Christian sacrament, by which one is received into a church and sometimes given a name, generally involving the candidate to be anointed with or submerged in water.

   The child’s baptism was held at the old church.

   1 more example

   The ceremony of baptism symbolizes spiritual rebirth.

   Synonyms: christening

2. countableuncountableA similar ceremony of initiation, purification or naming.
3. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe moment at which an object is first assigned a proper name.

1. nonstandardrareThe Baptist faith; the Baptist denominations of Christianity.

   1 more example

   Whereas Landon Carter was disgusted with his overseer's proselytizing in 1776, his nephew Robert, who originally shared his skepticism, saw the light in 1778, converted to Baptism himself, and spent much of the next decade encouraging his slaves to follow suit — much to the annoyance of several of his overseers.

   2009, Peter Kolchin, Unfree Labor, page 220