baptism of fire
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What does “baptism of fire” mean and how is it used in everyday language?
It's the word of the day podcast for August eleventh. Today's word is baptism of fire, sometimes known as baptism by fire. It's an introductory or initial experience that is a severe ordeal. In military contexts, baptism of fire specifically refers to a soldier's first exposure to enemy fire.
How is the phrase “baptism of fire” applied in military history and first combat experiences?
Here's the word used in a sentence from the weak. It was my first day on the slopes, and in my naivety I had tackled Avorez's famous boulevard deskiers after one three hour lesson, before I could even really turn. At thirty-six, this was a baptism of fire. The military sense of the term baptism of fire can be found in, among other texts, a nineteen oh seven history of a Massachusetts regiment in the Civil War, in these words That night we camped sixteen miles from Baton Rouge, where we remained until the twenty first, on which day we received our baptism of fire.
What biblical origins link to the modern metaphor of a “baptism of fire”?
Users of that sense referring to a soldier's first exposure to enemy fire, as well as those employing the more general sense of an especially difficult initiation, both allude knowingly or unknowingly, to a biblical passage. I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire from the book of Matthew. The use of baptism of fire to refer to such a spiritual baptism dates to at least the early sixteen hundreds. Non-biblical metaphorical use for any introductory or initial experience that is a severe ordeal arose in the mid-1850s.
When did the non‑biblical, metaphorical use of “baptism of fire” become common?
With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski. Visit MarionWebster dot com today for definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What does “baptism of fire” mean and how is it used in everyday language?
0:06–0:31
2
How is the phrase “baptism of fire” applied in military history and first combat experiences?
0:31–1:13
3
What biblical origins link to the modern metaphor of a “baptism of fire”?
1:13–1:54
4
When did the non‑biblical, metaphorical use of “baptism of fire” become common?
1:54–2:06