Middle English Dictionary Entry
baptēme, -esme, -isme, -īme n.
Entry Info
| Forms | baptēme, -esme, -isme, -īme n. Also babtem, baptoum. |
| Etymology | OF bapte(s)me, -i(s)me & ML baptismus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The act, ceremony, or sacrament of baptism; the fact of being baptized; also fig.; ~ water, water of ~, water used in baptism; ben hight in ~, be given a Christian name; name of ~, Christian name; taken (nimen, receiven, undergon) ~, be baptized.
Associated quotations
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)275 : The first sacrement of seuen is our baptisme [Thrn: baptym; Wycl.LFCatech.: bapteme].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 12.50 : I haue to be baptisid with baptym.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.98 : He receyueth the mark of baptesme, but nat the grace ne the remissioun of hise synnes til he haue repentance verray.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.899 : If that sche wolde Baptesme take and Cristes feith Believe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9493 : The fyrst sacrament ys holy bapteme, Hou of watyr, and noyted with creme: 'Crystendom' or 'crystynyng', Þat ys on englys, oure spekyng.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12831 : Þan him thoght þe time was cummen Þat he wald baptim nummen.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)12755 : In watir baptized he alle þo Þat wolde bapteme vndir go.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.193 : If þau [Saladin]..take our bapteme of funte, as childre ȝing, I salle gyue þe a reame.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)627 : In þe water of babtem þay dyssente.
- (c1400) Gower PP (Eg 2862)347 : Silvestre..Yaf him baptisme first in special.
- (?c1425) Hoccl.Jonathas (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)p.241 : A Cristen man..fallen in-to synne..leesith the ryng of feith which he receyued & tooke in his bapteme.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)87 : In the feithe of oure bapteme we ben wedded to oure lord Jesu criste.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)220 : The water of baptim is assigned for to represente to us the deeth and the sepulcre of Crist.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)174/77 : Baptyme is tane To wasshe and clense man of synne.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)175/102 : My wille is þis, þat fro þis day Þe vertue of my baptyme dwelle In baptyme-watir.
- (1450) RParl.5.213a : As if they were named by name of baptisme, surnon and addition.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)62/16 : Baptym ouȝte be receyuyd, and eukarist ouȝte be vsid.
- (1455) RParl.5.329a : The whiche persoune or persounes..specially named by name of Baptisme in youre last Parlement.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)214 : Eche of hem hight Gonnere in bapteme.
2.
Christian condition or faith; cristen ~.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.980 : After tyme that a man hath defouled his baptesme by synne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1779 : The man..Stant more worth..Thurgh baptesme of the newe lawe, Of which Crist lord is and felawe.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.375 : Myne hole bretheren in blode & in baptesme.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)38 : What man holdith nat the vnitee Of holy Chirche, neithir his bapteeme Ne his almesse.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3662 : Thei, þat naght [were] of cristen bapteme, Counseilled men eschue leccherie.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)339/6 : Gyff hur not vnto hym, bod if he furste forsake his God & his baptym.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)93 : Wite þei hem to haue brokyn þe cristun feiþ, and þe baptem, and to be paynims.
3.
(a) The water that poured from Christ's side during the Crucifixion (John 19.34) as a symbol of baptism; water of ~; (b) a purifying experience.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.320 : Cryst vpon caluarye..of his baptesme & blode þat he bledde on Rode He made a maner morter & mercy it hiȝte.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)653 : Blod and water of brode wounde..Þe water is baptem, þe soþe to telle.
- c1440(?a1400) ?Nassyngton Trin.& U.(Thrn)279 : Fra whilke owte rane..The precyous blode of owre raunsonne, With þe water of baptym, clere & thyn, For to wesche vs here of þe Oregynall syn.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3363 : Þe watyr of Baptoum, þe blod of redempcioun, þat fro þin herte ran doun, est causa saluacionis.
b
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)330 : Þe wordes þat þou werpe, and þe water þat þou sheddes, Þe bryȝt bourne of þin eghen, my bapteme is worthyn.
4.
(a) Washing, cleansing; (b) ceremonial purification by immersion.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))2 Esd.4.23 : I..and my brethern..diden not of oure clothis; eche onli was nakid to baptem [WB(2): waischyng].
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.3.7 : Joon Baptist..seeynge many of Pharisees and of Saducese commynge to his bapteme.
5.
Alch. The submersion of metals in a solution for the purpose of changing their superficial color.
Associated quotations
- c1475 in Singer Cat.Alchem.2.488 : The boke that tretith of the baptym of Saturne, Jubiter and Venus shewith howe that saturne may be turnyd into lune and Jubiter into white sol and Venus in to sol by the mene of a water that is 7 times sharper..than ever was any vinegar.