English
christian
see also: Christian
Noun

christian (plural christians)

  1. Uncommon spelling of Christian
    • 1807, [Germaine] de Staël Holstein, translated by D[ennis] Lawler, “[Book IV. Rome.] Chap[ter] IV.”, in Corinna; or, Italy. […], volume I, London: […] Corri, […]; and sold by Colburn, […], and Mackenzie, […], →OCLC ↗, page 208 ↗:
      Corinna then recollected, that in this very amphitheatre, the persecuted christians died victims of their perseverance, and shewing Lord Nelville the altars which are raised in honour of their ashes, as well as the path of the cross, which is trodden by penitents, at the foot of the most magnificent wrecks of worldly grandeur, asked him, if the ashes of martyrs conveyed no language to his heart?
    • 1939 May 4, James Joyce, Finnegans Wake, London: Faber and Faber Limited, →OCLC ↗; republished London: Faber & Faber Limited, 1960, →OCLC ↗, part IV, pages 605–606 ↗:
      […] a lector of water levels, most venerable Kevin, then effused thereby letting there be water where was theretofore dry land, by him so concreated, who now, confirmed a strong and perfect christian, blessed Kevin, exorcised his holy sister water, perpetually chaste, so that, well understanding, she should fill to midheight his tubbathaltar, which hanbathtub, most blessed Kevin, ninthly enthroned, […]
Adjective

christian

  1. Uncommon spelling of Christian
    • 1767 Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy, Book IV ( Slawkenbergius's Tale ):
      […] Luther was not born in the year 1483, but in 84; and not on the 22d day of October, but on the 10th of November, the eve of Martinmas day, from whence he had the name of Martin. […] —Now you ſee, brother Toby, he would ſay, looking up, "that chriſtian names are not ſuch indifferent things;"———had Luther here been called by any other name but Martin, he would have been damned to all eternity———Not that I look upon Martin, he would add, as a good name——far from it——'tis ſomething better than a neutral, and but a little——yet little as it is, you ſee it was of ſome ſervice to him.
    • 1807, [Germaine] de Staël Holstein, translated by D[ennis] Lawler, “[Book VIII. The Statues and the Pictures.] Chap[ter] III.”, in Corinna; or, Italy. […], volume II, London: […] Corri, […]; and sold by Colburn, […], and Mackenzie, […], →OCLC ↗, page 205 ↗:
      She said, that sculpture was a pagan art, and painting a christian one; […]
    • 1811, [Jane Austen], chapter XII, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume I, London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC ↗, pages 137–138 ↗:
      This was all overheard by Miss Dashwood; and in the whole of the sentence, in his manner of pronouncing it, and in his addressing her sister by her christian name alone, she instantly saw an intimacy so decided, a meaning so direct, as marked a perfect agreement between them.
    • 1939 May 4, James Joyce, Finnegans Wake, London: Faber and Faber Limited, →OCLC ↗; republished London: Faber & Faber Limited, 1960, →OCLC ↗, part I, page 3 ↗:
      The fall (bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later on life down through all christian minstrelsy.
Christian
Etymology

From Middle English Cristien, from Old French chrestien, from Latin Chrīstiānus, from Ancient Greek Χρῑστιᾱνός, from Χρῑστός ("Christ, anointed [one]") + Latin - suffix -ānus.

Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈkɹɪʃt͡ʃən/, /ˈkɹɪstiən/, /ˈkɹɪst͡ʃən/
Noun

christian (plural christians)

  1. A believer in Christianity.
    • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene i]:
      Shyl.... If a Iewe wrong a Christian, what is his humillity, reuenge? If a Christian wrong a Iewe, what should his sufferance be by Christian example, why reuenge? The villanie you teach me I will execute, and it shall goe hard but I will better the instruction.
    • 1848, James Ford translating St. Augustine in The Gospel of St. Matthew, Illustrated from Ancient and Modern Authors ↗, p. 46: ↗
      The whole life of a good Christian is nothing else but a state of holy desire (sanctum desiderium).
    1. (nonstandard) An adherent of Christianity who is not a Catholic; a Protestant.
  2. A person who seeks to live his or her life according to the principles and values taught by Jesus Christ.
    • 1526, William Bonde, Preface to Pylgrimage of Perfection:
      Ye lyfe of euery christian, is as a pilgremage.
    • 1976, Friedrich Nietzsche, translated by Walter Arnold Kaufmann, The Antichrist, §39:
      The very word ‘Christianity’ is a misunderstanding—at bottom there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross.
    • 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, →OCLC ↗, section II, page 20 ↗:
      ‘You’re riding for a fall, Healey, you know that? There are hedges and ditches ahead and you are on course for an almighty cropper.’
      ‘Sir.’
      ‘And I shall be cheering and laughing as you tumble,’ said Meddlar, his spectacles flashing.
      ‘That’s just the warm-hearted Christian in you, sir.’
  3. (obsolete, England) A European, especially though not necessarily of the Christian religion.
Related terms Translations Proper noun
  1. A male given name found in England since the twelfth century.
  2. A female given name of medieval usage, rare today.
  3. Surname.
  4. An unincorporated community in Logan County, West Virginia.
Related terms Translations Adjective

christian

  1. (not comparable) Of, like or relating to Christianity or Christians.
    1. (nonstandard, not comparable) Of, like or relating to Protestant Christians.
  2. (not comparable) Of, like or relating to Jesus Christ.
  3. Kind, charitable; moral; a term of approbation.
    That’s very Christian of you.
    • c. 1867, Janet Robertson, Christine; or, Common-Place People:
      I have only been at home two days, and here I am come on the third to see you and Tiny, so it is not Christian of you — as my mother would say — to receive your dutiful grand-nephew in such an unkind manner […]
Synonyms Antonyms Related terms Translations

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