Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Christian” come from?

Christian derives from Latin Christianus, from Ancient Greek Χριστιανός, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʰer-, meaning to rub or anoint.

Christian (English): A believer in Christianity; An individual who...

Definitions

  1. A believer in Christianity; An individual who...

Ancestry of “Christian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishCristienChristian; of those who believe in Christ;...
2Old FrenchchrestienChristian
3LatinChristiānus—
4LatinChrīstus—
5Ancient GreekΧριστόςanointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,...
6Ancient Greekχρίωto smear with , rub on something; to anoint with...
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrēy-to smear; to paint, streak, smear
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind

Words derived from “Christian”

  • Christianization
  • Christianize
  • Christianopolis
  • Christianness
  • Christianlike
  • unchristianlike
  • dechristianization
  • unchristianize
  • Christianese
  • Antichristianism
  • Christianophobia
  • Christianist
  • dechristianize
  • Christiany
  • paleochristian
  • christianite
  • Judeo-Christian
  • Christian name
  • Christianophobe
  • Judeo-Islamo-Christian
  • Christianoid
  • Christianess
  • pre-Christian
  • Christianistic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- →