Where does “-x” come from?

-x (English) comes from English X, from English Christ, from Middle English Crist, from Old English Crīst, from Latin Chrīstus, from Ancient Greek Χριστός, from Ancient Greek χρίω, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.

-x (English): Used to represent a value that may vary: see x;...

Definitions

  1. Used to represent a value that may vary: see x;...

Ancestry of “-x”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishXAn unknown quantity or unknown value; A variable...
2EnglishChristA figure or other artistic depiction of Jesus...
3Middle EnglishCrist(Jesus) Christ
4Old EnglishCrīstChrist
5LatinChrīstus
6Ancient GreekΧριστόςanointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,...
7Ancient Greekχρίωto rub or smear (especially the body) with oil or unguents; to anoint
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrēy-to smear; to paint, streak, smear
9Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind

Words derived from “-x

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy-Every word from Ancient Greek χρίω