affusion

/ə'fju:ʤn/

Thân thiện

A priest performs an affusion during a baptism ceremony.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A method of baptism involving pouring water: "affusion" refers specifically to the Christian rite of baptizing a person by pouring water over their head, as opposed to immersion or sprinkling.
   • (Archaic/Medical) The act of pouring a liquid over the body: Historically, "affusion" could also denote the therapeutic act of pouring water over a patient's body, often as a treatment for fever.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The priest performed the baptism by affusion. (The priest carried out the baptism by pouring water.)
  • In some Christian denominations, affusion is the preferred method of baptism. (In some Christian groups, baptism by pouring is the favored method.)
  • (Historical) The doctor prescribed affusion with cold water to reduce the patient's fever. (The doctor recommended pouring cold water as a treatment.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in theological, historical, or liturgical contexts to describe a specific sacramental practice.
• It can appear in academic discussions comparing different modes of baptism (e.g., affusion vs. immersion).

Variants and Related Words

• Affuse (verb, rare): To pour a liquid over or upon something.
  • The priest will affuse water during the ceremony.

Synonyms

• Pouring (in the context of baptism).
• Infusion (in a very general sense of pouring in, but not a direct synonym for the baptismal rite).

Related Phrases

• Baptism by affusion: The full phrase specifying the method.
  • They practice baptism by affusion rather than full immersion.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and most common meaning of "affusion" is religious, pertaining to a form of baptism.
• The secondary, historical medical meaning is now largely obsolete and would only be encountered in texts discussing historical medical practices.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of baptizing someone by pouring water on their head