xian

See also Xian, Xi'an, xiān, xián, xiǎn, and xiàn

English

Alternative forms

• Xian

Etymology

From Χ, the first letter of Greek Χριστος (Christ)

Proper noun

xian

1. Abbreviation of Christian.
   • 1993, Mary Moody Emerson, Simmons, Nancy Craig editor, The Selected Letters of Mary Moody Emerson, Athens: University of Georgia Press, page 242:

     But what an epoch in the xian world—what a time for a xian Orator to make a deep & eternal impression on socity^[sic].

Related terms

• Xmas
• xianity, xtianity

References

• What does 'xian' mean?

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Mandarin

Romanization

xian

1. Nonstandard spelling of xiān.
2. Nonstandard spelling of xián.
3. Nonstandard spelling of xiǎn.
4. Nonstandard spelling of xiàn.

Usage notes

English transcriptions of Chinese speech often fail to distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Chinese language, using words such as this one without the appropriate indication of tone.