v. [f. CHRISTIAN a. + -IZE; perhaps after med.L. christianizāre; mod.F. has also christianiser.]
1. trans. To make Christian, convert to Christianity (persons, nations).
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T. (1613), 126. He which peruseth that, and yet is Diagoriz’d, will neuer be Christianiz’d.
1676. I. Mather, Hist. War w. Indians (1862), 48. He was Christianized and baptiz’d.
1789. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 744. The Jesuits … made great efforts to civilize and Christianize the natives.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann. (1863), II. IV. i. 195. Scotland and Ireland were Christianized centuries before.
2. To make Christian in character, to imbue with Christian principles or forms.
1693. Apol. Clergy Scot., 49. The preaching of some men is such morality, as Seneca and other Heathens taught, only Christianised with some words.
1809. Edin. Rev., April, 224. He was then accused … of wishing to Christianize the Revolution (Christianizer la Revolution).
1831. Arnold, in Stanley, Life (1844), I. vi. 274. I cannot understand what is the good of a national Church if it be not to Christianize the nation.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 339. This attempt to christianise the drama did not produce an immediate effect.
3. intr. To adopt or conform to Christianity; to play the Christian. (rare.)
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. II. Colonies. Prester Iohn … Doth in some sort deuoutly Christianize.
1641. Milton, Animadv. (1851), 206. They did no more … but bring some Pagans to Christianize.
1823. Lamb, Elia, Imperf. Symp. These half convertites—Jews christianizing—Christians judaizing—puzzle me.
Hence Christianized ppl. a., Christianizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; Christianizer, one who Christianizes (trans. and intr.).
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 50. A Jewish Rabbine, or a Pagan Philosopher, or a Christianizer compact of them both.
1671. Flavel, Fount. Life, iv. 10. The far greater part of the Christianised world.
1767. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Prov. Mass., ii. 137. Some of the … christianized Mohawks.
1806. Ann. Rev., IV. 265. The would be christianizers of Hindostan.
1806. Southey, Lett. (1856), I. 370. In Germany … the clergy are philosophising Christians, or Christianising philosophers.
1859. I. Taylor, Logic in Theol., 201. The time of the Christianizing of the empire.
