chrism

From Middle English crisme, from Late Old English crisma, from Medieval Latin crisma, from Ecclesiastical Latin chrisma, from Ancient Greek χρῖσμα (khrîsma, “anointing”, “unction”), from χρίω (khríō, “anoint”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɪz(ə)m/

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• Rhymes: -ɪzəm

chrism (countable and uncountable, plural chrisms)

1. A mixture of oil and balm, consecrated for use as an anointing fluid in certain Christian ceremonies, especially confirmation.

   Synonyms: muron, myrrh

   • 1958, Anthony Burgess, The Enemy in the Blanket (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 352:

     A reinforcement of fresh troops staggered in, one man soaked and dripping, his hair sticky with the chrism of poured beer, another with his pockets crammed with sauce-bottles.

   • 1982, A. G. Dickens, Reformation Studies, page 305, footnote:

     I observe no confirmation of this reversal and Pole specifically restored chrisms in 1555 (Cardwell, op. cit. i. 147).

   • 1984, Anthony Burgess, Enderby's Dark Lady:

     ‘The King,’ Will cried, ‘is my master and bathed in the chrism of the Lord God.’

   • 1986, Thomas G. Pavel, Fictional Worlds‎, page 111:

     For Christian examples of condensed symbols, consider the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and the Chrisms.

   • 2000, Joseph O'Neill, The Black Shore‎, page 62:

     He was more dangerous than the plump satisfied ones, he was so sure of the value of his witchcraft, the holy oils and chrisms and unctions.

   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 8:

     Miraculously moist, the chrism was kept in an ampulla in Reims cathedral where the coronations of the kings of France were held.

   • 2023 May 6, Simon Schama, “Magic and Modernity”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 1:

     […] even if modest gestures of modernisation have slimmed down the ceremony, the chrism of unction is no longer perfumed with animal effluents—ambergris, musk and civet—and Andrew Lloyd Webber added to Handel and Elgar?

• hoplochrism

• chirms, smirch