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Webster 1913 Edition

Godfather

God′faˊther

,
Noun.
[AS.
godfæder
. Cf.
Gossip
.]
A man who becomes sponsor for a child at baptism, and makes himself a surety for its Christian training and instruction. Correlative of
godmother
.
There shall be for every Male-child to be baptized, when they can be had, two
Godfathers
and one Godmother; and for every Female, one
Godfather
and two Godmothers; and Parents shall be admitted as Sponsors, if it is desired.
Book of Common Prayer (Prot. Episc. Ch., U. S. ).

God′faˊther

,
Verb.
T.
To act as godfather to; to take under one’s fostering care.
[R.]
Burke.

Webster 1828 Edition

Godfather

GOD'F`ATHER

,
Noun.
The man who is sponsor for a child at baptism, who promises to answer for his future conduct and that he shall follow a life of piety, by this means laying himself under an indispensable obligation to instruct the child and watch over his conduct. This practice is of high antiquity in the christian church, and was probably intended to prevent children from being brought up in idolatry, in case the parents died before the children had arrived to years of discretion. In the catholic church the number of godfathers and godmothers is reduced to two; in the church of England, to three; but formerly the number was not limited.

GOD'F`ATHER

,
Verb.
T.
To act as godfather; to take under one's fostering care.

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