rebaptise

A priest prepares to rebaptise a new convert in a river.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To baptize again: "rebaptise" means to perform the Christian rite of baptism on someone who has already been baptized, often due to a change in religious denomination or personal conviction.

Usage Examples

• (To perform the baptismal ceremony again for a person who has already been baptized.)
• (To undergo the baptismal rite a second time.)

Advanced Usage

• "to rebaptise someone into a faith": to formally incorporate a person into a specific religious community through a second baptism.

  • The missionary decided to rebaptise the villagers into the new denomination. (To initiate them again into a different branch of Christianity.)

• "rebaptise" in a metaphorical sense: to rename or give a new identity to something.

  • The company decided to rebaptise its product line after the merger. (To rename or rebrand the product line.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rebaptism (n): the act or ceremony of baptizing again.

  • The rebaptism of the adult members was a significant event for the congregation. (The second baptism ceremony.)

• Rebaptizer (n): a person who performs a rebaptism.

  • The rebaptizer led the ritual at the river. (The person conducting the second baptism.)

Synonyms

• Rechristen: to give a new name to someone or something, often in a ceremonial context.
• Rededicate: to formally set apart again for a religious purpose (though less specific than baptism).

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms directly involving "rebaptise," but the phrase "baptism by fire" (a difficult initiation) can be contrasted: (He did not require a second initiation.)