Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A decoration or ornament in the form of a Chi-Rho or other Christian emblem.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A name given to a monogram found in the catacombs and in later use appearing in many forms, for example, or , and consisting of the first two letters, ΧΡ, of the Greek word ΧΡΙΣΤΟ*σ, Χριστός, Christ. Sometimes A (alpha) and Ω (omega) appear in the design. The date of its origin is unknown. The monogram appears with many variations and additions in royal signatures of the ninth and later centuries.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin Chrīs(tī) mon(ogramma), monogram of Christ : Latin Chrīstī, genitive of Chrīstus, Christ; see Christ + Late Latin monogramma, monogram; see monogram.]

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