CHRISTEN

PRONUNCIATION: (KRI-suhn)

MEANING: verb tr.:
1. To name someone or something.
2. To use something for the first time.
3. To initiate a person, especially a child, into the Christian church, by baptizing and giving a name.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old English cristen (Christian), from Latin Christus, from Greek Khristos (anointed), from khriein (to anoint). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ghrei- (to rub), which also gave us cream, grime, and grisly. Earliest documented use: c. 450 CE.
______________________________

CHRISTEEN - artist Jan's unheralded younger brother

CHRISTEIN - a vessel to contain sacramental beer

CHARISTEN - plural form in German of "charist," an old word meaning "a cook who always burns the meat"