History of English word title given to Jesus of Nazareth, Old English crist (by 830, perhaps 675), from Latin Christus, from Greek khristos "the anointed" (translation of Hebrew mashiah; see messiah), noun use of verbal adjective of khriein "to rub, anoint" (see chrism). The Latin term drove out Old English Hæland "healer, savior," as the preferred descriptive term for Jesus. English words derivatives: Christ-like; Christian; Christless; Christology; proper name, Christabel; Christer (slang); Christmas (Christ mass); crikey; Xmas (X=Greek chi); antichrist; Christopher; crisscross; christen; Christina; Christendom; Christianity; christianize; Christening; Christianism; Christmassy; Christmastide. - http://www.etymonline.com/ Bible: Jesus is the anointed Prophet, King, and High Priest. Thayer's G5547 Definition: Christ = "anointed"; Jesus is the anointed Messiah (anointed), the Son of God. Some words derived: Christ (n.) from Greek khristos "the anointed" (translation of Hebrew mashiah; see messiah), noun use of verbal adjective of khriein "to rub, anoint" (see chrism). Christian (n., adj.) from Ecclesiastical Greek christianos, from Christos (see Christ). First used in Antioch, according to Acts xi.25-26. Christology (n.) Christabel fem. proper name, probably a combination of Christ + Belle. Christmas (n.) from Christ (and retaining the original vowel sound) + mass (n.2). crikey exclamation, 1838, probably one of the many substitutions for Christ. messiah (n.) c. 1300, Messias, from Late Latin Messias, from Greek Messias, from Aramaic (Semitic) meshiha and Hebrew mashiah "the anointed" (of the Lord), from mashah "anoint." This is the word rendered in Septuagint as Greek Khristos (see Christ). Xmas (n.) "Christmas," 1551, X'temmas, wherein the X is an abbreviation for Christ in Christmas, B.C. abbreviation of Before Christ, in chronology, attested by 1823. The phrase itself, Before Christ, in dating, with exact years, is in use by 1660s. antichrist (n.) from Greek antikhristos (I John ii.18), from anti- "against" + khristos The name has also been applied to the pretenders to the Messiahship, or false Christs (Mat. xxiv. 24), who have arisen at various periods, as being antagonistic to the true Christ. Of these as many as sixty-four have been reckoned, including some of little importance, and also some, as Mohammed, who cannot properly be classed among them. [Century Dictionary] Christopher masc. proper name, from Ecclesiastical Greek khristophoros, literally "Christ-bearing;" from phoros "bearer," from pherein "to carry," |
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