Where does “Christianity” come from?
Christianity derives from Middle English Cristiente, from Old French crestienté, from Medieval Latin Christianitas, a formation built on Latin -itas (abstract noun suffix) combined with elements tracing to Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (messiah).
Christianity (English): An Abrahamic religion originating from the community of the followers of Jesus Christ
Definitions
- An Abrahamic religion originating from the community of the followers of Jesus Christ
Ancestry of “Christianity”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | Cristiente | Christendom all Christian people |
| 2 | Old French | crestienté | Christianity; Christendom |
| 3 | Latin | Christiānitās | Christianity |
| 4 | Latin | Christiānus | Christian |
| 5 | Latin | Chrīstus | — |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Χριστός | anointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | χρίω | to rub or smear (especially the body) with oil or unguents; to anoint |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰrēy- | to smear; to paint, streak, smear |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰer- | to rub; to stroke; to grind |