Semite
6 dictionary results for: semite
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
Sem·ite 
[sem-ahyt or, especially Brit., see-mahyt] Pronunciation Key
[sem-ahyt or, especially Brit., see-mahyt] Pronunciation Key –noun
| 1. | a member of any of various ancient and modern peoples originating in southwestern Asia, including the Akkadians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs. |
| 2. | a Jew. |
| 3. | a member of any of the peoples descended from Shem, the eldest son of Noah. |
m < Heb Shém
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| Sem·ite
(sěm'īt') Pronunciation Key
n.
[Back-formation from Semitic.] |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Semite
Semite
1847, "Jew, Arab, Assyrian, Aramæan," from Mod.L. Semita, from L.L. Sem "Shem," one of the three sons of Noah (Gen. x:21-30), regarded as the ancestor of the Semites (in the days when anthropology was still bound by the Bible), from Heb. Shem. Semitic (1813 of languages, 1826 of persons) is probably from Ger. semitisch (first used by Ger. historian August Schlözer, 1781), denoting the language group that includes Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, Assyrian, etc. In recent use often with the specific sense "Jewish," but not historically so limited.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| semite | |
adjective | |
| 1. | of or relating to or characteristic of Semites; "Semite peoples" |
noun | |
| 1. | a member of a group of Semitic-speaking peoples of the Middle East and northern Africa |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
Semite [(sem-eyet)]
Semite [(sem-eyet)]
Someone who belongs to the Semitic peoples. The Semites are supposedly descended from the biblical Shem, the eldest son of Noah.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Semite
Sem"ite\, n. One belonging to the Semitic race. Also used adjectively. [Written also Shemite.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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