Baptism \Bap"tism\, n. [OE. baptim, baptem, OE. baptesme, batisme, F. bapt[^e]me, L. baptisma, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to baptize, fr. ? to dip in water, akin to ? deep, Skr. g[=a]h to dip, bathe, v. i.]

The act of baptizing; the application of water to a person, as a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the visible church of Christ. This is performed by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)