baptismal font
1
7.4
- noun
- /ˈbæptɪzməl fɒnt/
:
fuente bautismal
- Many families gather at the baptismal font to celebrate the new life being welcomed into the faith.
Examples
-
The baptismal font was also the gift of a parishioner who carved it from a large pine knot.
Academic text (1996) -
The church has an exquisite baptismal font made of marble, which is used for ceremonies.
-
Some who had this wish went to the baptismal font and accepted a new faith.
Blog text (31) -
"It's very exciting and a rare opportunity to see a baptismal font in its original condition."
Blog text (7) -
There's a beautiful baptismal font in the church.
-
Twenty years apart, we were baptized right there," she said, pointing to the marble baptismal font.
Fiction book (1999) -
I don't know how many godparents and babies gathered respectfully around the baptismal fonts.
Academic text (2002) -
But soon I discovered the church's baptismal font as well as more mosaic floor remains from the church, indicating a structure 145 feet long and between 80 and 100 feet wide.
Academic text (2005) -
After the sermon, I walk to the baptismal font, where followers and icons are anointed with holy water to commemorate John's baptism of Christ in the waters of the River Jordan.
Academic text (2004) -
During the ceremony, the priest poured water from the baptismal font over the baby's head.
Synonyms
4
8.5
A large bowl in a church that holds water for baptisms
1
9.6
A bowl or small pool in a church for washing a person with water as a religious act
A bowl in a church that holds the water used when someone becomes a church member
How Ornate
1
7.4
4
8.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is fully compositional: 'baptismal' (connected with baptizing) modifies 'font' (a basin for baptismal water), so the overall meaning — a basin used for baptisms — is directly derivable from its parts. This follows common cross-linguistic compound logic and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents, even if the cultural specifics are unfamiliar.
Etymology
The noun baptismal font comes from old churches where a large bowl, the font, held water for baptismal ceremonies. People were dipped in the water or had it poured over their heads at that bowl, so baptismal font now means the basin used for 'baptism'.