affusion

American  

[uh-fyoo-zhuhn] / əˈfyu ʒən /

noun

1. the pouring on of water or other liquid, as in the rite of baptism.

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affusion British  

/ əˈfjuːʒən /

noun

1. the baptizing of a person by pouring water onto his head Compare aspersion immersion

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Other Word Forms

• superaffusion noun

Etymology

Origin of affusion

1605–15; < Late Latin affūsiōn- (stem of affūsiō a pouring upon), equivalent to affūs ( us ) (past participle of affundere; see af-, fuse ²) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, practices baptism via affusion, or water poured over the head, a tradition that proved handy over the years in places that had little access to bodies of water.

From Slate • Dec. 1, 2015

One would have thought that the cold countries should have been the first that should have changed the custom from dipping to affusion.

From To Infidelity and Back by Lutz, Henry F. (Henry Frey)

The affusion of cold water upon the head, and the burning of feathers or other fetid substances, held near the nostrils, are also attended with advantage.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Eaton, Mary, fl. 1823-1849

Cases, which at first were exceptional, gradually multiplied, so that, at length, the ordinary mode of baptism was by affusion.

From To Infidelity and Back by Lutz, Henry F. (Henry Frey)

Treatment.—Fresh air, artificial respiration, cold affusion, diffusible stimulants; inhalation of oxygen freely.

From Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Robertson, W. G. Aitchison (William George Aitchison )