Christian

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. An individual who subscribes to the religious faith centered on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and engages with its associated community practices
2. A follower of the religious beliefs that emphasize the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, often participating in communal worship and rituals
3. A person who adheres to the spiritual beliefs and moral principles derived from the teachings of Jesus Christ while actively engaging in a community of faith

Etymology: The key surprise is that "Christian" and "cretin" are doublets: two English words from the same source. "Cretin" came into English through French, where the name for the Christian faithful was "chrestien," and in that usage it came to mean a human being, a sense that gave rise to a word for a person with a developmental disability. The two words diverged over centuries of use in different registers, one religious and one medical in its eventual sense. The name itself traces back to ancient Greek "Khrīstós," meaning "Christ" or "anointed one," the title given to Jesus. Latin formed "Chrīstiānus" from it by adding the suffix "-ānus," which marks belonging to or associated with something, and Greek "Khrīstiānós" appears in the same form. English took the word through Old French and arrived in Middle English as "Cristien," with the older spelling "Christen" surviving alongside it for a time.

Synonyms: believer, follower, disciple, devotee, worshipper

Antonyms: nonbeliever, atheist, agnostic, pagan, infidel