affusion

American  

[uh-fyoo-zhuhn] / əˈfyu ʒən /

noun

1. the pouring on of water or other liquid, as in the rite of baptism.

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affusion British  

/ əˈfjuːʒən /

noun

1. the baptizing of a person by pouring water onto his head Compare aspersion immersion

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Other Word Forms

• superaffusion noun

Etymology

Origin of affusion

1605–15; < Late Latin affūsiōn- (stem of affūsiō a pouring upon), equivalent to affūs ( us ) (past participle of affundere; see af-, fuse ²) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, practices baptism via affusion, or water poured over the head, a tradition that proved handy over the years in places that had little access to bodies of water.

From Slate • Dec. 1, 2015

The Doctor found that a mixture of pearl ash with soot, calcined by a very intense heat in a covered crucible, when cold caught fire on the affusion of water.

From James Cutbush An American Chemist, 1788-1823 by Smith, Edgar Fahs

Cold affusion, which has also been extolled by modern physicians as a recent improvement in medical practice, we have seen, was also employed centuries ago.

From Curiosities of Medical Experience by Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)

The first effect of the affusion is often to elevate the temperature—a fact noticed by Currie himself—but the next affusion, practised at the end of an hour, pretty surely brings it down.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

When Baptism was by affusion or pouring, as is usual at the present time, the affusion was also trine.

From The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia by Miller, William James