This week’s theme
Biblical people and places that became words

This week’s words
Goshen
christen
Sodom
Rechabite
tower of Babel

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(KRI-suhn)

MEANING:

verb tr.:
1. To name someone or something.
2. To use something for the first time.
3. To initiate a person, especially a child, into the Christian church, by baptizing and giving a name.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Old English cristen (Christian), from Latin Christus, from Greek Khristos (anointed), from khriein (to anoint). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ghrei- (to rub), which also gave us cream, grime, and grisly. Earliest documented use: c. 450 CE.

NOTES:

In Christian traditions, during the sacrament of baptism, a child is given a name, which has led to the term “Christian name” to refer to a person’s first or given name. This contrasts with the family name or surname. When christening a vessel or a vehicle (firetrucks, boats, warships, submarines, buses, even cars?) traditionally a champagne bottle is smashed against it. It supposedly brings good luck. It’s not known what they smash when launching a new line of champagne -- anything less than a warship would be a disgrace.

USAGE:

“It was James Roscoe who first christened him Pirate. The nickname stuck.”
Carola Dunn; A Second Spring; Belgrave House; 1994.

See more usage examples of christen in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: