Christendom

plural Christendoms · alternative Christiandom · alternative Christdom

1. countableuncountableThe Christian world; Christ's Church on Earth.First known use 14th c.

   The Arian doctrine which then divided Christendom.

   1670, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in The History of Britain, that Part Especially now Call’d England. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for James Allestry, […] , →OCLC

   2 more examples

   The result is contained in the fact of a wide and still widening Christendom.

   1825, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Aphorisms on that which is indeed spiritual religion”, in Aids to Reflection, page 184

   Wessex was facing new barbarians, apparently intent on destroying everything that Christendom meant for England.

   2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 503

2. archaiccountableuncountableThe state of being a (devout) Christian; Christian belief or faith.First known use 9th c.

   By my Chriſtendome, So I were out of priſon, and kept Sheepe, I ſhould be as merry as the day is long.

   c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 11, column 2

   2 more examples

   […]and yet cannot be denied that ſo it ought to be, by any man that would not have his Chriſtendome ſuſpected.

   1643, Jeremy Taylor, Of the Sacred Order and Offices of Epiſcopacy […] , R. Royſton, page 101

   Especially about law and its obligatory force was Cromwell's head clear, making clearer distinctions than Wolsey with his conscience or More with his Christendom.

   2015 March 12 [1934], Kenneth Pickthorn, Early Tudor Government, volume 2, Cambridge University Press, page 137

3. countableobsoleteuncountableThe name received at baptism; any name or appellation.

   His faith, his ſweet diſaſter: with a world Of pretty fond adoptious chriſtendomes That blinking Cupid goſſips.

   c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 231, column 2

   1 more example

   […]but for an Author to renounce his Chriſtendome to write in his owne commendation, to refuſe the name which his Godfathers and Godmothers gaue him in his baptiſme , and call himſelfe a wellwiller to both the writers[…]

   1592, Thomas Nash[e], Pierce Penilesse His Supplication to the Deuill. […], London: […] [John Charlewood for] Richard Ihones, […], →OCLC