antichrist
|an-ti-christ|
🇺🇸
/ˈæn.tiˌkraɪst/
🇬🇧
/ˈæn.tɪ.krɪst/
opponent of Christ; false messiah
Etymology
'antichrist' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'antichristos', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'christos' meant 'anointed (one)'.
'antichristos' passed into Late Latin as 'antichristus' and then into Middle English and modern English as 'antichrist'.
Initially, it meant 'one against the anointed (Christ)', a specifically theological opponent; over time it retained that religious sense while also developing broader figurative uses meaning 'a great enemy or corrupter'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in Christian eschatology, a prophesied figure who will appear as a deceiver and opponent of Christ, often associated with the end times and ultimate evil.
Many medieval paintings depict the Antichrist as a charismatic ruler who leads people astray before the final judgment.
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Noun 2
in the New Testament (esp. the Johannine epistles), a person or spirit who denies or opposes Christ and the doctrine of Christ.
The epistles warn against false teachers and antichrists who deny that Jesus is the Messiah.
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Noun 3
colloquially, a person or thing regarded as wholly evil, corrupt, or the opposite of good or virtuous.
He joked that the slow internet at the office was the antichrist of productivity.
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Last updated: 2025/08/28 18:32