baptistery

bap·tis·ter·y

also bap·tis·try B0066500 (băp′tĭ-strē)n. pl. bap·tis·ter·ies also bap·tis·tries 1. A part of a church or a separate building used for baptizing.2. A font used for baptism.

[Middle English baptisterie, from Old French, from Late Latin baptistērium, from Greek baptistērion, from baptizein, to baptize; see baptize.]

bap•tis•ter•y

(ˈbæp tə stri, -tɪs tə ri)

n., pl. -ter•ies. 1. a building or a part of a church in which baptism is administered. 2. (esp. in Baptist churches) a tank for administering baptism by immersion. [1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin baptistērium < Greek baptistḗrion bathing place]

baptistery

Either a separate building or the part of a church reserved for the performance of the rite of baptism.

Thesaurus

Noun

baptistery - bowl for baptismal water baptismal font, baptistry, fontbasin - a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids; "she mixed the dough in a large basin"

Translations

baptistère

baptistery

enUK

baptistery

(băp`tĭstrē), part of a church, or a separate building in connection with it, used for administering baptism. In the earliest examples it was merely a basin or pool set into the floor. Later, the Christian Church set aside a separate structure for the ceremony. The earliest such structure still extant is in the Lateran basilica at Rome, in which, by tradition, Emperor Constantine was baptized (337). Octagonal in plan, it formed a model for many subsequent baptisteries, most of which were octagonal or circular. In the center of the chamber was the sunken pool, often surrounded by columns, with curtains to screen the neophyte during immersion. Early baptisteries are chiefly found in Italy and Asia Minor. In Hagia Sophia there is a 6th-century example still extant. When immersion was no longer practiced, a separate structure became unnecessary and was supplanted by a place within the church itself, set aside for the purpose. The standing fonts of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance were often objects of superb artistry. In Italy separate baptisteries continued to be built in the 12th to the 15th cent., notably the beautiful Romanesque structures at Florence, Pisa, Siena, and Parma. For the baptistery at Florence Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti designed celebrated bronze doors; for that at Pisa Nicola Pisano carved the marble pulpit.

baptistery

A building or part of one wherein the sacrament of baptism is administered.

baptistery

bap·tis·ter·y

bap•tis•ter•y

baptistery

baptistery

baptistery

baptistery

baptistery

Synonyms for baptistery

noun bowl for baptismal water

Synonyms

Related Words