godchild

/ˈɡɑdˌt͡ʃaɪld/

Etymology

From god- + child.

godchild means A child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent. In some cases the relationship is maintained indefinitely, with the godchild being treated much like a niece or nephew. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 85 out of 100.

Why this word is great

GODCHILD — [Noun] A child whose baptism and spiritual upbringing are sponsored by a godparent. From the Old English elements 'god' (referring to God or a deity) and 'cild' (child), it is a compound of divine obligation and human fragility. Unlike a “ward,” which binds through legal statute, or a “protégé,” which advances through secular patronage, a godchild is a creature of covenant, not contract—a bond forged in ritual water and promised prayers. It is the remembered weight of a sleeping infant against your shoulder, the annual birthday card signed with your title in careful script, and the quiet, mutual uncertainty at a confirmation service—a fragile filament of intended grace stretched across the indifferent years.

noun

A child whose baptism is sponsored by a godparent. In some cases the relationship is maintained indefinitely, with the godchild being treated much like a niece or nephew.“Mary stood as godmother for little Emily, her godchild.”