Where does “cretinize” come from?

cretinize (English) comes from English cretin, from French crétin, from French crestin, from French chrétien, from Old French chrestien, from Latin Christiānus, from Latin Chrīstus, from Ancient Greek Χριστός — to rub; to stroke; to grind.

cretinize (English): To cause to be or act like a cretin

Definitions

  1. To cause to be or act like a cretin

Ancestry of “cretinize”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcretinA person who fails to develop mentally and...
2Frenchcrétincretin
3FrenchcrestinChristian
4FrenchchrétienChristian
5Old FrenchchrestienChristian
6LatinChristiānusChristian
7LatinChrīstus
8Ancient GreekΧριστόςanointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,...
9Ancient Greekχρίωto rub or smear (especially the body) with oil or unguents; to anoint
10Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrēy-to smear; to paint, streak, smear
11Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer-
cretinize — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer