semitic
/səˈmɪt.ɪk/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.58 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of or pertaining to a subdivision of Afroasiatic Semitic languages: Akkadian, Amharic, Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew, Maltese, Phoenician, Syriac, Tigrigna etc.
adj
Of or pertaining to the Semites; of or pertaining to one or more Semitic peoples.
adj
Of or pertaining to the Semites; of or pertaining to one or more Semitic peoples.
adj
Of or pertaining to the Semites; of or pertaining to one or more Semitic peoples.
adj
Of or pertaining to the Semites; of or pertaining to one or more Semitic peoples.
name
The Semitic languages in general.
Example Sentences
- "On the other hand, scholars say that the Philistines were an Indo-European people not related to the Semitic Palestinians."
- "For quotations using this term, see Citations:Semitic."
- "Thus we trace ever and again the similarities which are to be found among the Semitic religions."
- "The Semitic religions (Christianity and Islam) are nationally honored in much of Africa."
- "In contrast to these Semitic religions some religions of Indian origin like Buddhism and Jainism, are pacifist to the extent of banning the killing of animals even for food."
Etymology
From Semite + -ic (18th century), from German semitisch, from Ancient Greek Σήμ (Sḗm), from the Hebrew שֵׁם (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 Akkadian 𒈬 (šumu, literally “name" or "son”). The word was coined and first applied to the Semitic languages by August Ludwig von Schlözer in 1781.
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /səˈmɪt.ɪk/
- British English: /səˈmɪt.ɪk/