abbreviations - Why do some words have "X" as a substitute?


Why do people sometimes substitute x for letters in a word?


Examples:



  • Xing

  • Xmas

  • Xfr



Answer



In those three examples, there are three different, albeit related, reasons:




  • Xing = Crossing. The "X" replaces "Cross" because an X is a cross.




  • Xmas = Christmas. The "X" replaces "Christ" because the cross is a symbol of Jesus and because X (really Chi) is an initial for "Christ" in Greek (Χριστός).




  • Xfr = Transfer. The "X" replaces the prefix "trans-" as it implies a crossing of something.




They are all abbreviations. I would be surprised if the origin of "Xing" wasn't in street signs, where "crossing" would be a long word to print to be able to read at a distance. I've more often seen "Xfr" as "Xfer"; it is used in electronic communications as jargon. I don't know the origin of "Xmas", but some people would have you believe that it's an effort to remove Christ from the holiday. I would guess it is just another general abbreviation.


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