baptism
bap.tism \'bap-.tiz-*m\ \bap-'tiz-m*l\ \-m*-le-\ n 1a: a Christian sacrament signifying spiritual rebirth and admitting the re cipient to the Christian community through the ritual use of water 1b: a rite using water for ritual purification Christian Science 1c: purification by or submergence in Spirit 2: an act, experience, or ordeal by which one is purified, sanctified, init iated or named {~ of fire} - bap.tis.mal aj