cristo Italian · revision 38068

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1250, Giacomo da Lentini|origins=grc χριστός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈkris.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cristo''' ''m'' (plural cristi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|Christus]], the Church Latin name, [[der|grc|Χριστός|tr=Khristós|t=the Anointed]], the noun use of the verbal adjective [[m|grc|χριστός|tr=khristós|t=anointed]], from [[m|grc|χρίω|tr=khríō|t=to anoint]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Greek word translates [[hbo|מָשִׁיחַ|tr=māšīaḥ|t=anointed (of the Lord)]], which the Old Testament applies to kings chosen by God, and which Italian has as [[messia]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) DELI thinks the Greek verb is probably of Indo-European origin.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The word is a learned one, and so are its derivatives: [[cristiano]] from [[m|la|chrīstiānus]], [[cristianesimo]] from [[la-lat|christianismus]], [[cristianità]] and [[cristianizzare]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) The name spread in the same form to all the European languages: [[fr|Christ]], [[es|Cristo]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Giacomo da Lentini in 1250, as the title of Jesus.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) GRADIT dates the word to before 1306, and DEI to the 14th century.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DEI|1165) In Old Italian the common noun also meant “one anointed by God”, a king, priest or prophet: Cavalca, before 1342, has ''Non vogliate toccare i cristi miei'' (touch not my anointed ones).^(TLIO)^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 16th century ''un Cristo'' is an image of Christ, especially a crucifix: Benvenuto Cellini (before 1571) is the first record.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|1165) Familiar speech made the word, mostly in lower case, a name for a wretched or ill-used person, ''un povero cristo'' (recorded in 1931), and for a big, tall man.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DEI|3045)

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+ As an oath it expresses anger or surprise;^(DEI|1165)^(Zingarelli 2010) DEI lists the euphemisms that replace it, such as ''cribbio'' and ''crisse''.^(DEI|1165)^(Zingarelli 2010) Fixed phrases are ''non c'è cristo'' “there's no way”, ''avanti Cristo'' and ''dopo Cristo'' (BC and AD), and ''addormentarsi in Cristo'' “to die in peace”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses ''Cristo'' as the title of Jesus.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1342 – Cavalca has the plural ''cristi'' “anointed ones”.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1571 – Benvenuto Cellini uses ''Cristo'' for an image of Christ.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1931 – ''Povero Cristo'' “a poor wretch” is recorded.^(DEI|3045)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Proper noun===

+ # ''Cristo'': [[m|en|Christ]], the title of Jesus of Nazareth as the [[m|en|Messiah]]: ''le parole di Cristo'', ''avanti Cristo'' “BC”, ''dopo Cristo'' “AD”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An image of Christ, especially a [[m|en|crucifix]]: ''Sopra il letto c'era un cristo di legno.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A wretched, ill-treated person: ''un povero cristo''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A very tall, big man: ''un cristo grande e grosso''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''non c'è cristo'', ''non c'è cristo che tenga'': there is no way, nothing can be done.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' One anointed by God, a king or priest.^(TLIO)^(GDLI)^(Zingarelli 2010)

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+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(vulgar)'' Expresses anger, surprise or frustration.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cristianesimo]]

+ * [[cristianità]]

+ * [[cristianizzare]]

+ * [[cristiano]]

+ * [[cristologia]]

+ * [[anticristo]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[messia]]

+ * [[crisma]]

+ * [[la|Christus]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ The name of Jesus is written with a capital; the common noun senses (''un povero cristo'') usually with a small letter.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) As an oath the word is felt as offensive, and euphemisms such as ''cribbio'' replace it.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(DEI|1165)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}