English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English Cristiente, Cristente, borrowed from Old French crestienté, from Medieval Latin stem of Chrīstiānitās, from Latin christianus, Christianus, from Ancient Greek Χριστιανός (Khristianós), from Χριστός (Khristós, Christ, anointed one) + Latin -anus (suffix for of, related to) + one more suffix borrowed from Latin "ity" makes the final Christian +‎ -ity. The term was respelled in the early modern English period to more closely reflect its Latin etymon.

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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Christianity (usually uncountable, plural Christianities)

  1. An Abrahamic religion originating from the community of the followers of Jesus Christ.
    • 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 4, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
      By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect.
    • 2002, The Atlas of Great Jewish Communities: A Voyage Through History, page 27:
      As a result, Christianity developed as a separate religion from Judaism.
  2. (Hong Kong) Protestantism.

Synonyms

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Hypernyms

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Coordinate terms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Proper noun

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Christianity

  1. Christendom, the Christian world

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See also

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