anabaptist
UK[ˌænəˈbæptɪst]US[ˌænəˈbæptɪst]
n
A member of a radical Protestant movement arising in the 16th century who advocated adult baptism and separation of church and state.
Morpheme Breakdown
ana
baptist
ana
again
baptist
one who baptizes
Etymology
The term "Anabaptist" originates from the Greek prefix 'ana-' (meaning "again") combined with 'baptistēs' (meaning "one who baptizes"). It was coined in the 16th century by opponents of the movement as a pejorative label, literally meaning "one who baptizes again." This directly references the core practice of the group: they rejected infant baptism as invalid and insisted on baptizing adults who had been baptized as children, which their persecutors viewed as a second, unnecessary baptism. The word thus encapsulates the central theological controversy, evolving from a literal Greek descriptor into the proper name for a significant branch of the Radical Reformation.
Analysis
Structure: ana (again) + baptist (one who baptizes)
- ana: A Greek prefix meaning "again," "back," or "up."
- baptist: Derived from the Greek 'baptistēs', meaning "one who baptizes," from the verb 'baptizein' meaning "to dip, immerse, or wash."
Examples
The Anabaptist belief in adult baptism set them apart from both Catholics and mainstream Protestants.
Persecuted for their views, many Anabaptists sought religious freedom in new lands.
Modern denominations like the Mennonites and Amish have their roots in the Anabaptist movement.