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Origin and history of Christian

Christian(n., adj.)

1520s as a noun, "a believer in and follower of Christ;" 1550s as an adjective, "professing the Christian religion, received into the Christian church," 16c. forms replacing Middle English Cristen (adjective and noun), from Old English cristen, from a West Germanic borrowing of Church Latin christianus, from Ecclesiastical Greek christianos, from Christos (see Christ). First used in Antioch, according to Acts xi.25-26:

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Meaning "having the manner and spiritual character proper to a follower of Christ" is from 1590s (continuing a sense in the Middle English word). Christian name, that given at christening, is from 1540s (also continuing a sense from Middle English Cristen). Christian Science as the name of a religious sect is from 1863.

also from 1520s

Entries linking to Christian

Christ(n.)

"the Anointed," synonymous with and translating to Greek Hebrew mashiah (see messiah), a title given to Jesus of Nazareth; Old English crist (by 830, perhaps 675), from Latin Christus, from Greek khristos "the anointed," noun use of verbal adjective of khriein "to rub, anoint" (from PIE root *ghrei- "to rub").

In the primitive Church it was a title, and used with the definite article, but from an early period it was used without it and regarded as part of the proper name of Jesus. It was treated as a proper name in Old English, but not regularly capitalized until 17c. Pronunciation with long -i- is result of Irish missionary work in England, 7c.-8c. The ch- form, regular since c. 1500 in English, was rare before. Capitalization of the word begins 14c. but is not fixed until 17c. The Latin term drove out Old English Hæland "healer, savior," as the preferred descriptive term for Jesus.

As an oath or strong exclamation (of surprise, dismay, etc.), attested by 1748. The 17c. mystical sect of the Familists edged it toward a verb with Christed "made one with Christ." Christ-child "Jesus as a baby" (1842) translates German Christkind.

antichristian(adj.)

1530s, "pertaining to the Antichrist," from antichrist + -ian; 1580s as "hostile or opposed to Christianity or Christians" (also anti-Christian); see anti- + Christian (adj.). Related: Antichristianity.

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christen
c. 1200, "to baptize into the Christian church," from Old English cristnian "to baptize," literally "to make Christian," from cristen "Christian" (see Christian). Especially to baptize and name as an infant, hence "give a name to at baptism" (mid-15c.) and the general sense of "g
infidel
Originally "a non-Christian" (especially a Saracen); later "one who does not believe in religion, disbeliever in religion...which is from a root meaning "to disbelieve, to deny," strictly referring to all non-Muslims but virtually synonymous with "Christian...;" hence, from a Muslim or Jewish point of view, "a Christian" (1530s)....As an adjective from mid-15c., "of a religion opposed to Christianity;" 1520s as "rejecting the Christian religion while...
Nazarene
In Talmudic Hebrew notzri, literally "of Nazareth," was used dismissively for "a Christian;" likewise Arabic Nasrani (plural...In Christian use, however, it can be a nickname for Jesus, or refer to an early Jewish Christian sect (1680s in English),...
church
Old English cirice, circe "place of assemblage set aside for Christian worship; the body of Christian believers, Christians..."of the Lord" was used of houses of Christian worship since c. 300, especially in the East, though it was less common in...An example of the direct Greek-to-Germanic transmission of many Christian words, via the Goths; probably it was used by West...Germanic people in their pre-Christian period....
millenarian
1670s, "one who believes in the coming of the (Christian) millennium" (by 1550s in Latin plural form millenarii), from Latin...As an adjective, "pertaining to the (Christian) millennium," from 1630s....
baptize
baptizein "immerse, dip in water," also figuratively, "be over one's head" (in debt, etc.), "to be soaked (in wine);" in Christian...Christian baptism originally was a full immersion. Related: Baptized; baptizing....
agape
Greek agapē "brotherly love, charity," in Ecclesiastical use "the love of God for man and man for God," a late and mostly Christian..."The Christian use may have been influenced by Hebr. 'ahaba 'love'" [Beekes]....In modern use, often in simpler sense of "Christian love" (1856, frequently opposed to eros as "carnal or sensual love")....
catholic
mid-14c., catholik, "of the doctrines of the ancient Church" (before the East/West schism), literally "universally accepted," from French catholique, from Church Latin catholicus "universal, general," from Greek katholikos, from phrase kath' holou "on the whole, in general," from
gentile
"one who is not a Jew," c. 1400; earlier "one who is not a Christian, a pagan" (late 14c.), from Late Latin noun use of Latin gentilis "of the same family or clan, of or belonging to a Roman gens," from gens (genitive gentis) "race, clan" (from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget,
apostle
Old English apostol "messenger," especially the twelve witnesses sent forth by Jesus to preach his Gospel (Luke vi.13), from Late Latin apostolus, from Greek apostolos "messenger, envoy," literally "person sent forth," from apostellein "send away, send forth," from apo "off, away

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