▪ I. chrism
(krɪz(ə)m)
Forms: 1 crisma, crysma, 2–6, 8 crisme, 3–5 crysme, 5 cresme, 6 chresme, 6–7 chrisme, 7 chrysme, 7– chrism.
[Found in different forms. L. chrisma (Tertull.), a. Gr. χρῖσµα anointing, unction, f. χρί-ειν to anoint, regularly became in Romanic cresma, OF. cresme (= crême). The L. was adopted directly in OE. as crisma wk. masc., whence ME. crisme. Alongside of this, from c 1300, is found creme (also creyme, crayme, later creame, cream) and rarely cresme, a. OF. cresme, crême. In the 16th c. both the Fr. and the Eng. word began to be refashioned with ch, after the Latin original, giving mod.F. chrême, and Eng. chrism. The other form creme, cream (in 16th c. occas. chreame), then went out of use; see cream n.1]
1. Oil mingled with balm, consecrated for use as an unguent in the administration of certain sacraments in the Eastern and Western Churches.
| a 1000 Ecgberht's Confess. §36 (Thorpe's Laws II. 162) Mid crysman smyreþ his breost. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2458 Cristene folc..ben smered ðor quiles he liuen Wið crisme and olie. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 71 He ordeynede þat every ȝere crisme and oyle shulde be i-halowed in holy chirche. 1398 ― Barth. De P.R. ix. xxxi. (1495) 367 On Cene thursdaye Crysma is made of oyle and of Balsamo with the whyche chyldern ben cremyd and enoynted. 1485 Caxton Chas. Gt. 20 The holy cresme. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 377/1 He had as leue..be smered with vnhalowed butter as anoynted wyth the holye chrisme. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iv. xv. 105 Afterwarde was added a taper with chresme. 1614 Selden Titles Hon. 133 The Chrism vsd in Confirmation, and only perhaps to that purpose, by the Pope. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 176/1 Then is his head..anointed with Chrism, that is Oyle and Balsome. 1825 Southey Paraguay iv. 68 The Pastor..there the font beside, With holy water, chrism and salt applied, Perform'd..the rite. |
b. fig.
| 1805 T. Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 36 Who will ever again come into eminent office unanointed with this chrism. 1874 Holland Mistr. Manse ix. 49 Strung into energy intense, At touch of an inspiring Chrism That fell on her. 1880 R. Broughton Sec. Th. ii. viii, It [dolorous love] can never be..sweet unless it is laved with the chrism of tears. |
c. with extended signif.: Unguent.
| 1833 Mrs. Browning Prometh. Bound (1850) I. 161 If a man Fell sick, there was no cure, nor esculent, Nor chrism, nor liquid. 1863 Worsley Poems & Transl. 10 Smeared face and hands and raiment with a chrism. 1868 Plumptre tr. æschylus' Persians 205, I at the altar stood..wishing holy chrism to pour To the averting Gods. |
2. A sacramental anointing; unction.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 29200 In funt stane wen we crisme tak. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 314 a, By confirmation and chrisme is receiued the holy gost. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. iv. i. §6 That Chrisme, and other such ceremonies are not to be used in Baptisme. 1874 H. Reynolds John Bapt. iii. §3. 191 Without ceremonial guarantee, without chrism, ordination, or hereditary rank. |
b. spec. The ceremony of Confirmation, esp. as practised in the Eastern Church.
| 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxvi, Their Baptisme in all respects, was as frustrate as their Chrisme. 1709 J. Johnson Clergym. Vade M. ii. 98 They..having learn'd the Creeds and received the Crisme, may partake of the holy mysteries. 1725 [see chrisom 1]. 1808 R. Porter Trav. Sk. Russ. & Swed. (1813) I. viii. 73 There are seven mysteries..in the Greek church, viz. baptism, the chrism, the eucharist, etc. 1882 Mrs. Pitman Mission L. Gr. & Pal. 304 Chrism is an ordinance corresponding somewhat to confirmation in the English Church. |
c. Extreme unction.
| 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. i. iii. (1636) 161 With us Chrisme or exteme unction, is not accounted a Sacrament. |
d. transf. and fig.
| 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. xi. Lord's Prayer 4 Let that anointing..descend upon us whereby we may be anointed Kings and Priests by a holy Chrisme. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 196 The reception of the Holy Ghost, sometimes called a chrism or unction. 1871 Farrar Witn. Hist. iii. 94. 1877 L. Morris Epic Hades i. 19 To dream That the long stain of time might fade and merge In one poor chrism of blood. |
3. = chrisom 2, 4.
| c 890 K. ælfred Bæda ii. xiv. Ða ærran tweᵹen [beorn] under crisman [primi albati adhuc] forþᵹeferdon. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (1835) 286 She made also crysmys ful dylygently For pore chyldryn whan thai shul crystyn be. 1616 Bullokar, Chrisme, sometime it is taken for a white linnen cloth wrapped about an infant after it is newlie christened. 1623 in Cockeram. 1704 [see chrisom 4 b]. |
4. attrib. and Comb., as chrism-child, chrism-cloth, chrism-loosing: see chrisom; chrism-liquor, chrism-money.
| 1609 Bp. Hall Dissuasive fr. Popery (1627) 641 Balsam, pure wax, and chrismes-liquor cleere. 1787 Archæologia VIII. 224 The chrism money was granted by Ernulf to the monks of his priory. |
▪ II. † chrism, v. Obs.
Also 6 chresme.
[a. OF. cresmer, and med.L. chrismāre f. chrisma (see prec.).]
trans. To anoint with chrism. Hence chrismed ppl. a.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1065 Þow killide has þise cresmede childyre. 1537 Abp. Lee in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. ii. App. lxxxviii. 230 He that is baptized shal never be a Christen man, unles he be chrismed by the confirmation of the Bishop. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. iv. xix. 151 They adde furthermore, that..he shall neuer be a Christian, that is not chresmed with the Bishopps Confirmation..By this sentence ar damned al the Apostles..whom it is moste certaine to haue neuer bene chresmed. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 384 The Messiah, that is, the chrismed or anointed. |