christendom

2 definitions found

christendom - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Christendom \Chris"ten*dom\, n. [AS. cristend[=o]m; cristen a
     Christian + -dom.]
     1. The profession of faith in Christ by baptism; hence, the
        Christian religion, or the adoption of it. [Obs.] --Shak.
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     2. The name received at baptism; or, more generally, any name
        or appelation. [Obs.]
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              Pretty, fond, adoptious christendoms. --Shak.
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     3. That portion of the world in which Christianity prevails,
        or which is governed under Christian institutions, in
        distinction from heathen or Mohammedan lands.
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              The Arian doctrine which then divided Christendom.
                                                    --Milton
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              A wide and still widening Christendom. --Coleridge.
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     4. The whole body of Christians. --Hooker.
        [1913 Webster]

christendom - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Christendom
      n 1: the collective body of Christians throughout the world and
           history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and
           Australia); "for a thousand years the Roman Catholic Church
           was the principal church of Christendom" [syn:
           Christendom, Christianity]