Forms: 1 cristn-ian, 3–4 cristn-e(n, 4–6 cristen, 6– christen. (With the usual ME. variants: cryst-, -in, -yn, -on, -un, (6 crestyn). dial. 6–7 kersen, 8–9 kirsen, 9 kersun, kessen, Sc. kirsten.) [OE. cristn-ian, f. cristen Christian, lit. to make Christian, Christianize. The e was originally elided between t and n, when a syllable followed, but inserted when the infinitive -en, -e, -y, was dropped; thus pa. t., 1 cristnode, 3 Orm. crisstnedd, 3–5 cristned, 6–7 christned (chrisned), 6– christened.]
† 1. trans. To convert to Christianity, make Christian, christianize. Obs. or arch.
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, II. 14 (Bosw.). Ðæt Paulinus ðær ðæt folc cristnode and fullode.
c. 1305. St. Christopher, in E. E. P. (1862), 64. He gan hem so lere Þat er hi come hom to þe kyng: alle icristned hi were.
c. 1450. Lydg., Mer. Missæ, 151. Charlys … cristende spayne.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 268. This thing chanced not long before we were christened, and is written by our Apostle, S. Gregory.
1614. Selden, Titles Hon., 29. When the Danish Nation was first Christned.
1644. Jer. Taylor, Apol. Liturgy, § 2. The first example in England since it was first Christened.
1880. R. Owen, Sanct. Cathol., 183, note. That holy Faith, which overcame the world, and christened it.
b. To make Christian in form, or profession.
1824. Coleridge, Aids Refl. (1848), I. 12. The powers of the world are often christened, but seldom christianized.
2. trans. To admit or initiate into the Christian Church by baptism; to baptize, administer baptism to. † To christen from: to protect by christening from (obs.; cf. BLESS v.1 3).
c. 1200. Ormin, 13257. Þatt menn hemm O Cristess name crisstneþþ.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sec. Nun’s T., 217. Pope Urban him cristened right there.
c. 1450. Merlin, v. 91. Antor toke the childe … and asked yef it were cristned.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 1684. He xall crestyn yow from þe fynddes power.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. i. 8. To crysten or baptem is as moche to say as to wasshe.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. i. 14. Were ye baptised in the name of Paul? I thanke God that I cristened none of you.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Acts i. 4 a. He shall chrysten you with the holy ghoste.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (1852), 75. The mydwyffe kersende them at home and was alowyd by the churche.
1614. T. Adams, Devil’s Banquet, 127. They were Christened when they were Babes, and could not helpe it.
1711. Swift, Lett. (1767), III. 207. The dean of Rochester christened the child. The child roared like a bull, and I gave Mrs. Masham joy of it.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 186. Orator Henley christening a child.
1837. R. Nicoll, Poems (1843), 93. When some o’ her kimmers hae kirsened a wean.
1855. Whitby Gloss., Kessen, to christen.
1879. ‘Hesba Stretton,’ Through a Needle’s Eye, I. 86. To … christen the infants, and bury the dead.
b. absol. To administer baptism.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems (1849), 9. Water is kendeliche cheld … Ther-fore me mey cristni ther-inne.
138[?]. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 141. Crist telliþ here þe fourme to Cristen.
1687. Burnet, Trav., ii. (1750), 84. They christen discovering the whole Head.
1820. Scott, Abbot, viii. He could marry, christen, and administer the other sacraments.
3. To give a name to (a person) at baptism; usually pass. to receive a name at baptism. (Often with the name as complement of predicate.)
c. 1450. Merlin, i. 15. It was cristened Merlyn.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 284. Iaq. I do not like her name. Orl. There was no thought of pleasing you when she was christen’d.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic., vi. The child … was christened by the name of Peregrine.
1829. Southey, Q. Mary’s Christening. The babe is christened James.
1876. T. Hardy, Hand Ethel., I. 1. She … began life as a baby christened Ethelberta.
† b. To give the name to, as sponsor; to stand sponsor to (a child) at baptism. Obs.
1515. Will of B. Batty (Layman), in Mem. Ripon, I. 332. I will that every child that I cristyned have vjd.
1649. Evelyn, Diary, 29 Nov. I christned Sir Hugh Rilies child with Sir Geo. Radcliffe … the parents being so poore that they had provided no gossips.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 28 Aug. I … christened the child, a girl, Elizabeth, which though a girl my Lady Batten would have me to give the name.
4. transf. To name and dedicate (bells, ships, etc.) by a ceremony analogous to baptism.
1533. Frith, Answ. More, Wks. (1573), 151. If you beleue that you ought to preach to fishes, and goe Christen them an other while, as ye do belles.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., XVI. (1843), 908/2. That his Majesty might … new Christen those Ships which too much preserv’d the memory … of the Republick.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. xxi. 247. Bells … being all christned, and dedicated to some Saint have a specifick Power to drive away all manner of evil Spirits, except Poverty in the Laity, and Pride in the Clergy.
1888. Glasgow Herald, 10 Sept., 10/6. The four-masted steel sailing ship Cape Horn … was successfully launched, and christened by Madame Voisin.
5. gen. To name, give a name to; often with complement, to call by the name of. colloq.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc., xxiii. The Disciples of the Glorious Nazarene were Christ’ned first in Antioch, for they had their baptisme some yeares before they had their Name.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 18. We christen effects by their most sensible … causes.
1715. M. Davies, Ath. Brit., I. 109. He reckons but one, and she a Nun, viz. Anne (as he Christens her).
1725. Swift, Wood, an Insect. Chambermaids christen this worm a deathwatch.
1887. Athenæum, 31 Dec., 898/1. The United States authorities have recently christened a river in Alaska … after Mr. Frederick Whymper.
6. With various allusions, mostly humorous.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., IV. ii. 71. Heere is the babe … The Empresse sends it thee … And bids thee christen it with thy daggers point.
1679. Dryden, Tr. & Cr., Prol. 20. Weak short liv’d issues of a feeble age, Scarce living to be Christend on the Stage!
1785. Burns, Ep. J. Lapraik, xix. We ’se … kirsen him wi’ reekin water.
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, Let. xiii. We’ll christen him with the brewer (here he added a little small beer to his beverage).
b. in Thieves’ Cant.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., Christen, obliterating the name and number on the movement of a stolen watch; or the crest, cipher, &c., on articles of plate, and getting others engraved, so as to prevent their being identified, is termed having them bishop’d, or christen’d.
1868. J. Doran, Saints & Sinners, II. 290. The pietist thieves … ‘christen’ daily as soon as they have stolen a watch. This thieves’ christening consists in erasing the maker’s name and supplying another.
