v.
Pronunciation: ' kri-s ə n
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: chris · tened ; chris · ten · ing \ ' kris-ni ŋ , ' kri-s ə -ni ŋ \
Etymology: Middle English cristnen, from Old English cristnian, from cristen Christian, from Latin christianus
Date: before 12th century
1 a : BAPTIZE 1 b : to name at baptism
2 : to name or dedicate (as a ship) by a ceremony suggestive of baptism
3 : NAME 1
4 : to use for the first time