Christendom

Noun

Christendom (countable and uncountable, plural Christendoms)

1. The Christian world; Christ's Church on Earth.
   • 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
   • 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
2. (archaic) The state of being a (devout) Christian; Christian belief or faith.
   • 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]...
   • […]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
3. (obsolete) The name received at baptism; any name or appellation.
   • […]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
   • 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]...