chrism
[ kriz-uh m ]
/ ˈkrɪz əm /
noun
a consecrated oil, usually mixed with balsam or balsam and spices, used by certainchurches in various rites, as in baptism, confirmation, and the like.
Nearby words
chresard, chrestien de troyes, chrestomathy, chrimbo, chris, chrism, chrismation, chrismatory, chrismon, chrisom, chrisom child
Also chrisom.
Origin of chrism
before 900; learned respelling of Middle English crisme, Old English crisma < Latin chrīsma < Greek chrîsma unguent, unction
Related formschris·mal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for chrism
British Dictionary definitions for chrism
chrism
chrisom
/ (ˈkrɪzəm) /
noun
a mixture of olive oil and balsam used for sacramental anointing in the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches
Derived Formschrismal (ˈkrɪzməl), adjective
Word Origin for chrism
Old English crisma, from Medieval Latin, from Greek khrisma unction, from khriein to anoint
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for chrism
chrism
"oil mingled with balm," Old English chrisma, from Church Latin chrisma, from Greek khrisma "an unguent, anointing, unction," from khriein "to anoint," from PIE root *ghrei- "to rub" (cf. Lithuanian griejù "to skim the cream off"). Chrisom "baptismal robe," is a c.1200 variant of this. Related: Chrismal; chrismatory.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper