Forms: 1–6 cristendom, 6– christendom. Also 3–6 cristin-, cristyn-, crysten-, etc.; with suffix, 1– -dom, 4 -doom, 4–5 -dam, 4–7 -dome; dial. 7– kirsendom. [OE. cristendóm, f. cristen Christian (CHRISTEN a.) + -dóm suffix of dignity, position, quality: see -DOM. Cf. ON. kristindómr, Sw. kristendom, Dan. christendom, MHG. kristentuom, MG. kristintûm.]
† 1. The state or condition of being Christian; = CHRISTIANITY 3. To take christendom: to accept Christianity, become Christian; see also 4.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., II. iv. Ac heo [Rome] for hiere cristendome nuʓiet is ʓescild.
a. 1134. O. E. Chron., an. 1129. Ealle þa þet Cristendome hæfdon.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 33. Forsaken Crist and hire cristendom and rihte bileaue.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 549. Til he thurgh grace may com Til baptem and til cristendom.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (1858), 81. Whethir he wold forsake his knythod or his Cristendam.
1529. More, Dial. Heresy, IV. Wks. 259/2. A christen mannes euill liuing, can not be imputed to hys christendome.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. iii. 15. Their cloathes are after such a Pagan cut too ’t, That sure th’haue worne out Christendome.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc., xix. Any man that would not have his Christendome suspected.
1681. Baxter, Search Schism., ii. 13. Admitted to Christendom by baptism.
† b. By my christendom! = As I am a Christian! (Cf. by my halidom, faith, etc.). Obs.
c. 1325. Coer de L., 929. Be my Crystyndham.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1906. ‘By þe cristendom þat y fong’; quaþ Terry.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. i. 16. By my Christendome, I should be as merry as the day is long.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (1871), 93. The gaping rural fools … swore by their Christendoms … they never saw such a miracle.
† 2. The Christian faith or religious system; Christianity. Obs.
a. 1000. Judith (Grein), Epilog. 264. Se cristendom weox on heora timan.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 5. Seodþan þe cristindom wes.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1526. Seinte Peter … Pope was at rome verst cristendom to lere.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 184. She fonde No Christendome in thilke londe.
c. 1450. Merlin, iii. 55. Seth cristendom come first in-to this Ile.
1588. R. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 334. Many crosses and many other signes and tokens of Christendome.
1649. trans. Behmen’s Ep., xxxiv. (1886), 16. The present Christendom is merely titular and verbal.
† b. The sacraments and other ordinances of Christianity; Christian privileges. Obs. rare.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10209. The meste was, alas! that ther nas no Cristendom.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., II. vi. (1636), 62. Englands want of Churches and Christendome.
3. a. Christians collectively; the church.
a. 1131. O. E. Chron., an. 1129. Nu wærð swa mycel dwyld on Cristendom swa it næfre ær ne wæs.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 29281 (Cotton Galba). Þe pape of rome … Þe hele of cristendom and heuyd.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 395. To lede alle Cristyndoom to hevene.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc., xiii. The successive practice of Christendom.
1866. Liddon, Bampton Lect., i. 1. The momentous question which … has rivetted the eye of thinking and adoring Christendom. Ibid., viii. The Creed of Christendom.
† b. A particular body or community of Christians. Obs. rare.
c. 1205. Lay., 29366. And fordude al þisne cristindom.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 103. Ageyn þe paemy þe Cristendam to saue.
c. The countries professing Christianity taken collectively; the Christian domain.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 36. Ȝef ony broþer … deye in straunge cuntre, in cristendom or in hethenesse.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 67. The Kyng of Spayne, one of the myghtyest Kyngs in Crystendome.
1528. Tindale, Obed. Chr. Man, Wks. (1573), 139/2. Not … a foote of grounde in Christendome.
a. 1627. Middleton, Mayor Quinb., V. i. The king of Kirsendom Shall not be better welcome.
1669. Dryden, Wild Gallant, II. i. One of the arrantest cowards in Christendom.
1717. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., II. xlvii. 44. Among the Turks … false witnesses are much cheaper than in Christendom.
1849. Trench, Mirac., Prelim. Ess. vi. (1862), 94. A Christendom ‘commensurate and almost synonymous with the civilized world.’
† d. The Christian dispensation. Obs. rare.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 22268 (Fairf.). Þer salle be a king … of al oþer kingis þe last … þer salle he ȝilde vp … his coroun & his kingis wande til ihesu crist … and squa salle cristen-dome take ende.
† 4. Baptism, as a token of admission to the Christian church; christening. Obs. To take christendom: ‘to receive baptism.’ (Cf. 1.)
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4959. Seint oswald … is godfader was in is cristendom.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9496. The fyrst sacrament ys holy bapteme … Crystendom or crystynyng.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 280. Troianus was a trewe knyȝte and toke neuere cristendome, And he is sauf.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. vi. 4. We ben to gidere biried with him bi cristendom [1388 baptym] in to deeth.
1483. Cath. Angl., A crystendam; baptismus, baptisma.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 17 b. I was called Wyllyam at my christendome.
1680. Hon. Cavalier, 8. The unfortunate Infants … have no Christendom.
† b. Allusively. (a.) Washing or sprinkling; (b.) Giving of a name, ‘christening.’ Obs.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, 83. How can he maintaine his peak in true christendome of rose-water euerie morning?
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, I. i. 188. A world Of pretty fond adoptious christendomes That blinking Cupid gossips.
† 5. Oil for chrism or anointing. Obs. rare.
c. 1511. 1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.), Introd. 35. That same tree, ther yat holy crestendom or olye out ronneth.
