Semitic

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Alternative spellings 1.4 Noun 1.5 Related terms 1.6 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /sɛˈmɪ.tɪk/, /səˈmɪ.tɪk/, SAMPA: /sE"mI.tIk/, /s@"mI.tIk/,

[edit] Etymology

From the English Semite, an 18th century ethnological label derived from the Greek Σημ, Sēm, from the German semitisch, from the Hebrew שֵׂם, Šēm Shem, the name of the eldest son of Noah in biblical tradition (Genesis 5.32, 6.10, 10.21), considered the forefather of the Semitic peoples. Perhaps derived from the Akkadian šumu, name or son.

[edit] Adjective

Semitic (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to a subdivision of Afro-Asiatic Semitic languages: Amharic, Arabic, Aramaic, Syriac, Akkadian, Hebrew, Maltese, Tigrigna, Phoenician etc.
2. Of or pertaining to the Semites: Semitic people.
3. (Biblical) Of or pertaining to the descendants of Shem, the eldest of three sons of Noah.
4. In a stricter sense, of or pertaining to the Israeli, Jewish, or Hebrew people.

[edit] Alternative spellings

• semitic

[edit] Noun

Semitic (uncountable)

1. The Semitic languages in general.

[edit] Related terms

• Semite
• anti-Semite
• anti-Semitic
• Semitics
• Semitism
• anti-Semitism

[edit] See also

• Wikipedia article on Semitic languages.
• Wikipedia article on Shem.
• Wikipedia article on Sons of Noah.