antichrists
|an-ti-christ|
🇺🇸
/ˈæn.tiˌkraɪst/
🇬🇧
/ˈæn.tɪˌkraɪst/
(antichrist)
opponent of Christ; false messiah
Etymology
'antichrist' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'antichristus,' ultimately from Greek 'antichristos,' where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'christos' meant 'anointed (Christ)'.
'antichrist' changed from Greek 'antichristos' into Latin 'antichristus' and entered Middle English from ecclesiastical Latin, eventually becoming the modern English 'antichrist'.
Initially, it referred specifically to a false messiah or someone who would oppose Christ; over time it broadened to include general opponents of Christianity and, figuratively, extremely wicked persons.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
in Christian theology, a future figure who will appear as a false messiah and oppose Christ at the end of the world.
Many medieval writers warned that antichrists would deceive the faithful before the final judgment.
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Noun 2
a person who is seen as actively opposed to Christ or Christian teachings; an opponent of Christianity.
In some polemical texts, political leaders were denounced as antichrists for persecuting the church.
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Noun 3
used figuratively for any person regarded as extremely wicked, immoral, or profoundly opposed to good.
To his critics he was nothing less than one of the antichrists of his era.
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Last updated: 2025/08/28 19:38