Xtianity
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]1634,[1] from Christianity, replacing Christ with the abbreviation Xt (from Ancient Greek Χ (Kh, the letter chi), the first letter of Χριστός (Khristós, “Christ”) + t, the last letter of "Christ"). Compare the more common Xmas.
Noun
[edit]Xtianity (uncountable)
- Alternative form of Xianity (“abbreviation of Christianity”)
- 1950 December 14, C. S. Lewis, Letter to Sheldon Vanauken[1]:
- I believe Buddhism to be a simplification of Hinduism and Islam to be a simplification of Xtianity.
Usage notes
[edit]As with Xmas and Xianity, as of the late 20th century this term may be considered informal and potentially disrespectful, though it was traditionally an unobjectionable scribal abbreviation.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Xtianity”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC.