Christ
/kraɪst/noun
A title for Jesus, derived from the Greek word for 'anointed one.'
Did you know?The term 'Christ' is linked to ancient Greek religious practices, where anointing with oil symbolized divine favor and kingship, deeply intertwining spirituality with authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰer-
“to grasp, enclose, or take hold of”
Ancient Greek
Greek
χριστός (christos)
“the anointed one, often used in religious contexts for kings or prophets”
Latin
Latin
Christus
“the anointed one, specifically referring to Jesus in Christian texts”
Old English
Old English
Crist
“the title used to refer to Jesus, carried over from Latin and Greek sources”
Modern English
English
Christ
“a title for Jesus denoting his role as the savior and anointed one in Christianity.”