Why is Jesus occasionally referred to as "The Christ"? Is there a different definition between the two? I've occasionally heard of Jesus Christ referred to as "The Christ" and the phrasing has always struck me.  What are the differences (if any) between referring to him as Jesus Christ versus "The Christ", and what is the origin of the title?
The word "Christ" is simply the English transliteration of the Greek word "Χριστός" (pronounced "khristós"). It has the same meaning as the word "Messiah" which is simply a loose English transliteration of the Hebrew word "מָשִׁיחַ" (pronounced "mashíach"). Therefore, you'll find the word "Christ" used in translations of the New Testament and the word "Messiah" used in translations of the Old Testament.  

Both words essentially mean "the anointed one".  In other words, Jesus is the one chosen by God to save His people. He is the Messiah who was promised to the children of Israel. He is the fulfillment of the prophecies.

When people call Jesus, "Jesus Christ," they are simply using the word as his title or epithet.  And when Jesus is called "The Christ," it is the same thing as calling him "The Messiah" or "The Anointed One." There is no obvious distinction in meaning between the two. It is simply a matter of grammatical style.