Christianity
ˌkrɪstʃiˈænɪti
noun
Origin
Latin
christiānitās — the Christian religion; Christian character or condition
Overview
Meaning Now
- The religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
- The worldwide community of Christians; the Christian faith and tradition as a whole.
Literal older meaning
the state or condition of being Christian
Language path
English → Latin → Greek
Earliest form
cristente
Earliest period
Late 14th century
Journey
The word belongs to the large Christian vocabulary that entered English through Latin and Anglo-French during the medieval period, when theological and ecclesiastical terms were widely borrowed into learned and religious writing. Its structure reflects a common Latin abstract noun pattern for naming a religion or condition.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
Χριστιανός
“a follower of Christ”
The base adjective/noun identifying a Christian.
- Late Latin
christiānus / christiānitās
“Christian; Christianity”
Abstract noun built from the adjective christiānus.
- Middle English
cristente / cristianité
“the Christian faith or the state of being Christian”
Borrowed through Anglo-French and/or directly from Latin scholarly usage in medieval English.
- Modern English
Christianity
“the Christian religion”
Standard modern form with -ity abstract noun ending.
Connections
Word parts
Christian
stem
relating to Christ or Christians
-ity
suffix
state, quality, or condition
Related across languages
French
christianisme
Christianity
Spanish
cristianismo
Christianity
Italian
cristianesimo
Christianity
German
Christentum
Christianity
Greek
Χριστιανισμός
Christianity
Explore next
Related to Christianity
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.