- consecrated oil used in baptism and other sacraments
- a sacramental anointing with this oil
Origin of chrismMiddle English crisme from Old English crisma from Ecclesiastical Late Latin chrisma, an anointing, unction from Gr, oil (in Ec use, anointing) from chriein, to rub, anoint: see Christ
- A consecrated mixture of oil and balsam, used for anointing in church sacraments such as baptism and confirmation. Also called holy oil .
- A sacramental anointing, especially upon confirmation into the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Origin of chrismMiddle English crisme chrism, chrisom from Old English crisma from Latin chrīsma from Greek khrīsma an anointing from khrīein to anoint ; see ghrēi- in Indo-European roots.
From Medieval Latin crisma, from Ecclesiastical Latin chrisma, from Ancient Greek χρῖσμα (khrisma, “anointing”, “unction”), from χρίω (khriō, “anoint”).