Where does “Christkind” come from?
Christkind (German) comes from German Christ, from Middle High German kristen, from Old High German kristāni, from Latin Christiānus, from Latin Chrīstus, from Ancient Greek Χριστός, from Ancient Greek χρίω, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.
Christkind (German): Christ Child
Definitions
- Christ Child
Ancestry of “Christkind”, step by step
Christkind traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via German Christ
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Christ | a Christian; Christ |
| 2 | Middle High German | kristen | — |
| 3 | Old High German | kristāni | — |
| 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 |