Etymology: Ultimately < classical Latin Chrīstus Christ, in post-classical Latin also divinely appointed ruler (Vulgate) < Hellenistic Greek Χριστός Christ, use as noun of ancient Greek χριστός anointed ( < χρίειν to anoint (see chrism n.) + -τός , suffix forming verbal adjectives), after Hebrew māšīaḥ Messiah n. Similar or shared borrowing is shown by forms in other West Germanic languages: Old Frisian kerst , krist (West Frisian kryst- , in compounds; now usually Kristus ), Old Dutch krist (Middle Dutch crist , kerst , Dutch Christ , Kerst , chiefly in compounds; now usually Christus ), Old Saxon krist , crist (Middle Low German krist , christ ), Old High German krist , christ (Middle High German krist , christ , German Christ , chiefly in compounds; now usually Christus ); compare also Gothic Xristus ( < Greek), and early Scandinavian (runic: Denmark) Krist , Kristr , Old Icelandic Kristr , Old Swedish Krister (Swedish Krist ), Old Danish Crist (Danish Krist ) (probably < a West Germanic language). Very early or shared borrowing is also suggested by the parallel borrowing seen in christen adj.; compare also christen v.Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French Crist , Old French Krist , Middle French, French Christ (9th cent.), Spanish Cristo , Portuguese Cristo (both 13th cent.), Italian Cristo (14th cent.), and also Early Irish Críst (Irish Críost ), Old Welsh, Welsh Crist . Length of the stem vowel in Old English and Middle English. The early development of the stem vowel in English is unclear. The standard modern English pronunciation (British /krʌɪst/, U.S. /kraɪst/) clearly shows the reflex of a Middle English form with long ī , which is attested from at least early Middle English onwards, as confirmed by the spelling Crist in the Ormulum (c1175; contrast Orm's spellings of christen adj., christen v. below); however, the existence of a Middle English variant with short ĭ is also shown by rhyme evidence, e.g. Crist : brest in St. Katherine (Auch.) (c1330), Crist : ewangelist , stablist (= ‘stablished’), etc. in Cursor Mundi (a1400), Crist : euaungelest , puplist (= ‘published’), etc. in Metrical Rule St. Benet (a1450). The quantity of the vowel in Old English is uncertain. The phonological development of certain related formations (e.g. christen adj., christen v.; compare respectively Orm's spellings crisstene and crisstnenn ) appears to reflect an original short ĭ (compare also Old English cristelmǣl , (with metathesis) cyrstelmǣl , variants of cristesmǣl mark of Christ (compare meal n.²), although these could alternatively show late Old English trisyllabic shortening). It is also notable that the continental Germanic languages clearly show borrowing of a post-classical Latin form with shortened vowel (the expected development of the classical Latin form). Nevertheless, it has been suggested that (irrespective of the quantity of the stem vowel in christen adj. and other formations) Old English crist itself had a long vowel, although its origin is uncertain and disputed, perhaps ultimately reflecting a Latin variant which retained the original long vowel (if so, probably transmitted via British), or perhaps showing the influence of Early Irish (the origin of the long vowel in Early Irish is also uncertain; influence from Ísu , the name of Jesus, has been suggested). Specific forms. In early use (especially in Old English) sometimes written as xpist (also xrist ), particularly in abbreviated forms (as e.g. xp̄es for genitive cristes ), following Latin spelling and abbreviation practices, but ultimately representing Greek χρ- ; compare discussion at X n. 10, chi-rho n., and also nomen sacrum n. Such spellings and abbreviations are attested also (and, in later use, even more frequently) for the word stem when it appears in derivatives, as christen adj., Christendom n., etc. In Old English and Middle English texts, such forms are often represented by later editors in expanded form without comment. The spelling with initial ch- is comparatively infrequent in Middle English, although it becomes the most common one in the 16th cent. In use as interjection (see sense B.) sometimes written with asterisks, dashes, etc., representing suppressed letters, to avoid the charge of ‘taking the Lord's name in vain’. Derivatives of this word (Christendom n., Christian adj., etc.) which are still current are now almost always spelt with a capital initial, except christen v.

Etymology: < Christ n.In early use in sense 1 perhaps in some instances a shortening of, or an error for, christen v. (compare the variant readings in quots. eOE, a1425, 1509).