B.C. 400 baptizein (Greek word =immerse) used since time of Plato
the Greek baptizein was taken into Latin as baptizare
A.D. c190 baptismus (immersion), Latin noun used by Tertullian in De Baptismo
c190 baptizare (to immerse), Latin verb used by Tertullian
397 baptisma (immersion) Latin word used by Prudentius
c400-430 baptismus (immersion) Latin word used in the time of Augustine
450-1150 Old English (Anglo-Saxon English)
816 Council of Calichyth, under King Kenwold, upheld immersion
850-1350 bapteme or baptesma (immersion), Old French noun
850-1350 baptiser (to immerse), Old French verb
977 Synod of Amesbury recounted widespread use of immersion in the island
c1040 baptesma & baptiser are in Vie de Saint Alexis, an Old French poem
1066-1150 baptesme, a noun, appeared in Middle English
1150-1470 bapteme was in use during the reign of Middle English
1200 baptize (=immerse) used as early as this year
1200-1296 six church councils of England, admonished immersion
c1200 baptiste is in the Trinity College Homilies
1297 bapteme is in Metrical Chronicle by Robert of Gloucester
1300 bapteme is in Cursor Mundi, a Northumbrian poem
1382 baptem, baptysing, & baptym used by Wycliffe
1470-1650 Early Modern English
1534 the Church of England (the Anglican Church) is founded
Henry VIII, his older brother Arthur, his sister Margaret, King Edward VI, and Queen Elizabeth I were all immersed.
1558-1603 "immersion was almost the universal rule in Elizabeth's reign"
1571 Reformation Legum Ecclesiasticarum requires immersion for Anglicans
"According to Prof. Skeat the Greek baptizein was taken into Latin as baptizare, and thence into Old French as baptiser, and then into Middle English as baptisen. In this way the word has a settled place in the language long before Wycliffe's time and 400 years before the time of the King James Version."
