See also: samaritan and samaritán

English

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Etymology

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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.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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Samaritan (plural Samaritans)

  1. A native, or inhabitant of Samaria; especially one practising certain ethnoreligious traditions indigenous to that region.
    • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 62:
      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. (UK) A person who works for the Samaritans telephone helpline, taking calls from suicidal members of the public.

Coordinate terms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Adjective

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Samaritan (not comparable)

  1. Of, or relating to Samaria or Samaritans.

Translations

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Proper noun

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Samaritan

  1. The ancient language of Samaria: a dialect of Hebrew.

Anagrams

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