Semite - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Sem, Shem +‎ -ite, from Late Latin Sēm, from Ancient Greek Σήμ (Sḗm), from Biblical Hebrew שם (šēm). Compare German Semit, New Latin Sēmīta, French sémite.[1]

Semite (plural Semites)

  1. A member of a modern people that speak a Semitic language.
  2. A member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia and East Africa such as the Akkadians, Assyrians, Arameans, Phoenicians, Canaanites, Hebrews, Arabs, or Aksumites.
  3. A descendant of any of these peoples.
  4. A descendant of the biblical Patriarch Shem.
  5. (sometimes derogatory) A Jew.

descendant of any of these peoples

  1. ^ “Semite, n. and adj.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

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