English

Alternative forms

• christogram

Noun

Christogram ‎(plural Christograms)

1. A monogram that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbol, such as the chi-rho (☧).

   1903: "Had he [the creator of a Pompeiian mosaic] been a Christian, he would certainly have given expression to his faith by some definite Christian symbol, — the fish or the ΑΩ, or the Christogram." P. C., The Open Court 17, p. 185.

   1978: "About thirty of these [markings on Pompeiian amphorae] appear to be either the so-called christograms [...] or other monograms disturbingly reminiscent of the various christograms" W. O. Moeller, "Marks Names and Numbers" in: Boer (ed.), Hommages a Maarten J. Vermaseren, p. 813.