X·mas  (krĭs'məs, ěks'məs)  n. Christmas. [From X, the Greek letter chi, first letter of Greek Khrīstos, Christ; see Christ.] Usage Note: Xmas has been used for hundreds of years in religious writing, where the X represents a Greek chi, the first letter of Χριστoς, "Christ." In this use it is parallel to other forms like Xtian, "Christian." But people unaware of the Greek origin of this X often mistakenly interpret Xmas as an informal shortening pronounced (ěks'məs). Many therefore frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas. |
