CHRISTEN


Meaning of CHRISTEN in English

I. christen adjective or noun

Usage: capitalized

Etymology: Middle English cristen, from Old English

obsolete : christian

II. chris·ten ˈkris ə n verb

( christened ; christened ; christening -s( ə )niŋ ; christens )

Etymology: Middle English cristnen, cristen, from Old English cristnian, from cristen Christian, from Latin christianus

transitive verb

1. obsolete : christianize

2.

a. : to receive or initiate into a Christian church by the rite of baptism : baptize

b. : to name at baptism

3. obsolete : to stand sponsor to (a child) at baptism

4. : to name or dedicate in naming (as a ship) by a ceremony suggestive of baptism

5. : to give a name to : name , denominate

the latter hill they christened Mount Joy — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania

6. : to use for the first time especially with a sense of the formality of the occasion

christen a new car by taking a Sunday drive

intransitive verb

: to administer baptism

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.