Semite
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
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]
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈsiː.maɪt/, /ˈsɛm.aɪt/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - (US) IPA(key): /ˈsɛm.aɪt/
- (pin–pen merger) IPA(key): /ˈsɪm.aɪt/
- Hyphenation: Se‧mite
Noun
Semite (plural Semites)
- A member of a modern people that speak a Semitic language.
- 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.
- A descendant of any of these peoples.
- A descendant of the biblical Patriarch Shem.
- (sometimes derogatory) A Jew.
Related terms
Translations
member of any of a number of ancient peoples
descendant of any of these peoples
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References
- ^ “Semite, n. and adj.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
