Samaritan
nounadjectiveproper nounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//səˈmæɹɪtən//
- United States//səˈmɛɹɪtən//
A native, or inhabitant of Samaria; especially one practising certain ethnoreligious traditions indigenous to that region.
noun
- 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
A charitable person, one who helps others (from the Bible story in Luke 10:30–37).
- 3
A person who works for the Samaritans telephone helpline, taking calls from suicidal members of the public.
Etymology
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.
adjective
- 1
Of, or relating to Samaria or Samaritans.
proper noun
- 1
The ancient language of Samaria: a dialect of Hebrew.
Forms
- plural
- Samaritans
Samaritan · A native, or inhabitant of Samaria; especially one practising certain ethnoreligious traditions indigenous to that region.
samba · A Brazilian ballroom dance or dance style.Samba · A town and district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.same · Not different or other; not another or others; not different…