Chrism

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 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 sb.¹]

  1.  Oil mingled with balm, consecrated for use as an unguent in the administration of certain sacraments in the Eastern and Western Churches.

c. 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. Ibid. (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 [of lying and slandering]?

1874.  Holland, Mistr. Manse, ix. 49. Strung into energy intense, At touch of an inspiring Chrism That fell on her.

1880.  Miss Broughton, Sec. Th., II. II. viii. 58. It [dolorous love] can never be truly rhythmical and 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, trans. 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.  Daus, trans. 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. R. 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. K. Porter, Trav. Sk. Russia & Swed. (1809), I. viii. 73–4. There are seven mysteries … in the Greek church, viz. baptism, the chrism…, the eucharist, [etc.].

1882.  Emma R. Pitman, Mission Life in Greece & Pal., 304. Chrism is an ordinance corresponding somewhat to confirmation in the English Church.

  c.  Extreme unction.

1635.  Pagitt, Christianogr., I. iii. (1636), 161. With us Chrisme or extreme 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. They had been consecrated for their mighty work by no earthly chrism.

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 tweʓen [beorn] under crisman [primi albati adhuc] forþʓeferdon.

1447.  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, -cloth, -loosing: see CHRISOM; chrism-liquor, -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.