Baptist
/ˈbæp.tɪst/noun
A person who baptizes, especially one who practices or advocates baptism.
Did you know?Its deepest root is Greek *báptō*, “to dip,” the same family that gave us *baptize* and originally referred to dipping cloth or objects into liquid before it became a holy rite.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷabh-
“to dip, plunge, or immerse”
Ancient Greek
Greek
βάπτω (báptō)
“to dip, plunge, or dye”
Late Greek
Greek
βαπτιστής (baptistḗs)
“one who baptizes; a baptizer”
Late Latin
Latin
baptista
“baptizer; one who administers baptism”
Old French
Old French
baptiste
“baptizer; also used as a Christian name”
Middle English
English
baptist
“one who baptizes; especially a follower of baptism as a Christian rite”