Christianity
UK[ˌkrɪstiˈænəti]US[ˌkrɪstʃiˈænəti]
n
The religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the belief that he is the son of God.
n
Christians as a group; the Christian world.
Morpheme Breakdown
christ
ian
ity
christ
anointed one
ian
belonging to
ity
state or quality
Etymology
The word 'Christianity' narrates the formalization of a belief system around a title. Its journey begins with the Greek 'Christos', a term applied to Jesus of Nazareth by his early followers. The Latin suffix '-ianus' was appended to create 'Christianus', meaning a follower or partisan of Christ, a formation analogous to terms like 'Caesarianus' (follower of Caesar). Finally, the abstract Latin suffix '-itas' was added to this adjective, yielding 'Christianitas', which denoted the collective state, doctrine, and community of Christians, evolving into the modern English term for the world religion.
Analysis
Structure: christ (anointed one) + ian (belonging to) + ity (state or quality)
- christ: From Greek 'Christos', meaning "anointed one," a translation of Hebrew 'Mashiach' (Messiah). In this word, it functions as the core root identifying the central figure.
- ian: A suffix of Latin origin, indicating "belonging to" or "relating to." It forms the adjective 'Christian' (one belonging to Christ).
- ity: A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin ('-itas'), denoting a state, condition, or quality. It converts the adjective 'Christian' into the abstract noun.
Examples
Christianity spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire in its first few centuries.
The core tenets of Christianity include love, forgiveness, and salvation.
The history of Christianity has profoundly influenced Western art, law, and culture.