baptized

the word 'baptized' originates from the greek verb 'baptein', which literally meant 'to dip' or 'to immerse'. this term was adopted into christian ecclesiastical latin as 'baptizare', specifically to denote the religious rite of immersion in or sprinkling with water. the '-ize' suffix, of greek origin, was used to form verbs, and the past participle ending '-ed' comes from the common germanic verbal inflection system. thus, the literal sense of 'having been dipped' evolved into the specialized religious and ceremonial meaning of being initiated or named through the sacrament of baptism.

Structure: bapt (to dip, immerse) + ize (verb suffix) + (e)d (past participle suffix) bapt (from greek 'baptein', meaning to dip, immerse, wash); ize (verb-forming suffix from greek '-izein', via latin '-izare'); (e)d (suffix from old english '-ed', '-od', '-ad', forming past tense and past participles of weak verbs).