chrism
/ˈkɹɪz(ə)m/ noun
Forms chrisms
- noun A mixture of oil and balm, consecrated for use as an anointing fluid in certain Christian ceremonies, especially confirmation.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English crisme, from Late Old English crisma, from Medieval Latin crisma, from Ecclesiastical Latin chrisma, from Ancient Greek χρῖσμα (khrîsma, “anointing”, “unction”), from χρίω (khríō, “anoint”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Olive oil mixed with balm and spices, consecrated by the bishop on Maundy Thursday, and used in the administration of baptism, confirmation, ordination, etc.
- noun The same as Chrisom.
Etymology [OE. crisme, from AS. crisma; also OE. creme, fr. OF. cresme, like the AS. word fr. LL. chrisma, fr. Gr. friare, fricare, to rub, Skr. gharsh, E. friable, friction. Cf. Chrisom.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “chrism”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details