Sinaean

English

Etymology

From Sinae +‎ -an, from Latin Sinae, from Ancient Greek Σῖναι (Sînai), q.v.

Adjective

Sinaean (comparative more Sinaean, superlative most Sinaean)

1. (archaic) Synonym of Chinese.
   • 1639, John Chilmead, translating Robert Hues as A Learned Treatise of Globes..., p. 139:

     ...so that I cannot but wonder that Matthaeus Riccius a Iesuite, in his Sinaean expedition should take so much paines to prove, that the Kingdome of Cathaia, and of the Sinaeans is all one.

   • 1958 November, Joseph J. Spengler, “Malthus Again”, in Challenge, volume 7, number 2, page 12:

     An undersettled Soviet Union welcomes the rise of a 600-million Sinaean power increasing some two per cent per year.

2. (archaic) Synonym of East Asian or Chinese-like.
   • 1893, Guillaume Louis Figuier, translated by Robert Wilson, The Human Race, page 292:

     The nations belonging to the Sinæan branch... have not the features of the Yellow Race so well defined as those belonging to the Mongolian branch.

Related terms

Proper noun

Sinaean (plural Sinaeans)

1. (archaic, rare) Synonym of Chinese.
   • 1639, John Chilmead, translating Robert Hues as A Learned Treatise of Globes..., p. 139:

     ...so that I cannot but wonder that Matthaeus Riccius a Iesuite, in his Sinaean expedition should take so much paines to prove, that the Kingdome of Cathaia, and of the Sinaeans is all one.

Noun

Sinaean (plural Sinaeans)

1. (archaic, rare) Synonym of Chinese.
   • 1639, John Chilmead, translating Robert Hues as A Learned Treatise of Globes..., p. 139:

     ...so that I cannot but wonder that Matthaeus Riccius a Iesuite, in his Sinaean expedition should take so much paines to prove, that the Kingdome of Cathaia, and of the Sinaeans is all one.

References

• “Sinaean, adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.