Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
pre-Christian

pre-Christian

3 7.0
From the time before Christianity began
  • adjective
  • /priːˈkrɪs.tʃən/
: precristiano
  • The archaeologists uncovered pre-Christian artifacts that provided insight into the ancient civilization.

You know, there's, there's a lot of discussion of, of Christian authors and adaptations of the, the, you know, pre Christian heritage in there.

Examples

  • The museum exhibit focuses on pre-Christian symbols used in rituals and daily life.

  • Many cultures had rich pre-Christian traditions that still influence their modern practices.

  • You know, there's, there's a lot of discussion of, of Christian authors and adaptations of the, the, you know, pre Christian heritage in there.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

Surface Forms

pre-Christian positive

Morphology

pre-Christian = Christian (transparent) = pre + Christian

The meaning is straightforwardly 'before the Christian era' from the standard temporal prefix 'pre-' plus 'Christian'.

Etymology

The word pre-Christian puts together pre- ('before'), like in preview, and Christian ('a follower of Christ'), so it describes people, beliefs, or times that came 'before' Christianity began.