bapistery
|bap-tis-ter-y|
/bæpˈtɪstəri/
(baptistery)
place for baptism
Etymology
'bapistery' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'baptisterium', where the root 'baptist-' comes from Greek 'baptizein' meaning 'to dip, to immerse'.
'baptisterium' passed into Old French as 'baptistere' and into Middle English as 'baptistrie'/'baptisterie', eventually giving the modern English 'baptistery'; 'bapistery' appears as a variant spelling of this modern form.
Initially, it referred specifically to a place for immersion (baptism by dipping), but over time it came to mean any building or designated area used for the Christian rite of baptism.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
variant spelling of 'baptistery': a building or part of a church used for baptism, especially a separate structure or an area surrounding a baptismal font.
The small bapistery beside the cathedral dates from the 12th century.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/13 06:08