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.
References edit
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.