Samaritan

//səˈmæɹɪtən// adj, name, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of, or relating to Samaria or Samaritans. not-comparable
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    The ancient language of Samaria: a dialect of Hebrew.
Noun
  1. 1
    A native, or inhabitant of Samaria; especially one practising certain ethnoreligious traditions indigenous to that region.

    "Many of these despised people built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim in the central Palestinian territory known as Samaria, and hence they were called Samaritans (a word of contempt to Jews); in very reduced numbers, they still live round their sacred mountain now."

  2. 2
    a Good Samaritan
  3. 3
    a member of the people inhabiting Samaria in biblical times wordnet
  4. 4
    A charitable person, one who helps others (from the Bible story in Luke 10:30–37).
  5. 5
    A person who works for the Samaritans telephone helpline, taking calls from suicidal members of the public. UK

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin Samarītānus, from Ancient Greek Σαμαρείτης (Samareítēs), from Σαμαρεία (Samareía, “Samaria”), derived from Biblical Hebrew שֹׁמְרוֹנִים (Šōmərôním) and שֹׁמְרוֹן (Šōmərôn) respectively. Attested in Old English.

Etymology 2

From Latin Samarītānus, from Ancient Greek Σαμαρείτης (Samareítēs), from Σαμαρεία (Samareía, “Samaria”), derived from Biblical Hebrew שֹׁמְרוֹנִים (Šōmərôním) and שֹׁמְרוֹן (Šōmərôn) respectively. Attested in Old English.

Etymology 3

From Latin Samarītānus, from Ancient Greek Σαμαρείτης (Samareítēs), from Σαμαρεία (Samareía, “Samaria”), derived from Biblical Hebrew שֹׁמְרוֹנִים (Šōmərôním) and שֹׁמְרוֹן (Šōmərôn) respectively. Attested in Old English.

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