Xtianity

English

Etymology

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. By surface analysis, Xtian +‎ -ity.

Noun

Xtianity (uncountable)

  1. 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

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

References

  1. ^ 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.
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