Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “Antecrist” come from?

Antecrist (Middle English) comes from Middle French antecrist, from Medieval Latin Antichristus, from Ancient Greek Ἀντίχριστος, 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 “Antecrist”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchantecrist—
2Medieval LatinAntichristus—
3Ancient GreekἈντίχριστος—
4Ancient GreekΧριστόςanointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,...
5Ancient Greekχρίωto smear with , rub on something; to anoint with...
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrēy-to smear; to paint, streak, smear
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind

Words derived from “Antecrist”

  • Antichrist
  • antichristian
  • Antichristic
  • antichristianly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- →