First use appears c. 1634,[1] fromChristianity, replacingChrist with the abbreviationXt (fromAncient GreekΧ(Kh,the letter chi), the first letter ofΧριστός(Khristós,“Christ”) +t, the last letter of "Christ"). Compare the more commonXmas. Bysurface analysis,Xtian +-ity.
Xtianity (uncountable)
- Alternative form ofXianity(“abbreviation ofChristianity”).
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 ofXtianity.
- As withXmas andXianity, as of the late 20th century this term may be considered informal and potentially disrespectful, though it was traditionally an unobjectionable scribal abbreviation.
