Where does “christian” come from?
christian (English) comes from Middle English Cristien, from Old French chrestien, from Latin Christiānus, from Latin Chrīstus, from Ancient Greek Χριστός, from Ancient Greek χρίω, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.
Ancestry of “christian”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | Cristien | Christian; of those who believe in Christ;... |
| 2 | Old French | chrestien | Christian |
| 3 | Latin | Christiānus | — |
| 4 | Latin | Chrīstus | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Χριστός | anointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | χρίω | to smear with , rub on something; to anoint with... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰrēy- | to smear; to paint, streak, smear |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰer- | to rub; to stroke; to grind |