Chrism

views updated May 17 2018

Chrism (Gk., chrisma, from chriō, ‘anoint’). A mixture of olive oil and balsam used in Catholic and (with other ingredients, including wine, nuts, and gum) Orthodox churches. It is used in anointings at baptism, confirmation, and ordination, and at other consecrations (but not in the anointing of the sick: see UNCTION).

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions JOHN BOWKER

chrism

views updated May 29 2018

chrism a mixture of oil and balsam, consecrated and used for anointing at baptism and other rites of the Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican Churches. The word is recorded from Old English, and comes via medieval and ecclesiastical Latin from Greek khrisma ‘anointing’, from khriein ‘anoint’.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

chrism

views updated May 17 2018

chrism / ˈkrizəm/ • n. a mixture of oil and balsam, consecrated and used for anointing at baptism and in other rites of Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican Churches.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

chrism

views updated May 29 2018

chrism consecrated oil OE.; Holy Unction; chrisom cloth XIII. OE. crisma — medL. c(h)risma — Gr. khrîsma, f. khrī́ein anoint (cf. CHRIST); refash. after L. (XVI).

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD