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Semite
Semite , originally one of a people believed to be descended from Shem, son of Noah. Later the term came to include the following peoples: Arabs; the Akkadians of ancient Babylonia; the Assyrians; the Canaanites (including Amorites, Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites, and Phoenicians); the various Aramaean tribes (including Hebrews); and a considerable portion of the population of Ethiopia. These peoples are grouped under the term Semite, chiefly because their languages were found to be related, deriving presumably from a common tongue, Semitic. The Semites were largely nomadic pastoralists, although some settled in villages. At least as early as 2500 BC, the Semites had begun to leave the Arabian peninsula in successive waves of migration that took them to Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean coast, and the Nile delta. They were organized into patrilineal tribes, occupying defined territories and ruled by hereditary leaders, or sheiks. In Mesopotamia, Semitic people from the earliest times were in contact with Sumerian civilization and with the rise of Sargon of Agade (Akkad) and Hammurabi of Babylon were able to dominate it completely (see Sumer ). In Phoenicia the Semitic population developed a widespread maritime trade and became the first great seafaring people. That group of Hebrews that had been diverted through Sinai into the Nile delta settled at last with other Semitic inhabitants in Palestine. These southern or Judean Hebrews became the leaders of a new nation and religion (see Jews and Judaism ).
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"Semite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Semite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Semite.html "Semite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Semite.html |
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Semites
Semites Assyrians and babylonians and others who lived round the ancient Fertile Crescent, and their modern descendants, both Jews and Muslims. The name is derived from Shem (son of Noah, Gen. 6: 10). (In modern parlance, since the late 19th cent., including NT scholarship, the term ‘antisemitic’ is used more restrictively to describe opposition to Judaism.) Groups of languages spoken by peoples of that region are known as Semitic, classical Hebrew being just one. The particular Semitic contribution to civilization was the development of an alphabet.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "Semites." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "Semites." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Semites.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "Semites." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Semites.html |
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Semites
Semites Peoples whose native tongue belongs to the group of Semitic languages. They originally inhabited an area in Arabia and spoke a common language, Proto-Semitic, from which the Semitic languages descend. Among the modern Semites are Arabs, native Israelis, and many Ethiopians.
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"Semites." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Semites." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Semites.html "Semites." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Semites.html |
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Semite
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Semite." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Semite." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Semite.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Semite." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Semite.html |
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Semite
Semite Hebrew, Arab, Assyrian, or Aramaean, regarded as a descendant of Shem (Gen. 10). XIX. — modL. Sēmīta, f. (Vulg.) Sēm — Gr. Sḗm Shem; see -ITE.
So Semitic XIX. |
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T. F. HOAD. "Semite." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "Semite." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-Semite.html T. F. HOAD. "Semite." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-Semite.html |
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Semite
Sem·ite / ˈsemīt/ • n. a member of any of the peoples who speak or spoke a Semitic language, including in particular the Jews and Arabs. |
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"Semite." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Semite." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-semite.html "Semite." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-semite.html |
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Semite
Semite Any of the peoples supposed to be descended from Shem, son of Noah, including especially the Jews, Arabs, Assyrians, and Phoenicians.
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"Semite." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Semite." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Semite.html "Semite." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Semite.html |
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Semite
Semite
•Hamite, samite
•marmite • Semite • Vegemite
•eremite • Hashemite • Fatimite
•chromite • Edomite • sodomite
•stalagmite • Elamite • dolomite
•Adullamite • dynamite • catamite
•Benthamite
•termite, thermite
•Samnite • sennight • midnight
•lignite • selenite • gelignite
•kaolinite • Leninite
•finite, transfinite
•watchnight • fortnight • Sunnite
•exurbanite, suburbanite, urbanite
•manganite • ammonite • Mennonite
•Canaanite • Maronite • bentonite
•Irvingite • respite • alexandrite
•Arkwright • cartwright • nephrite
•playwright • wainwright
•wheelwright • millwright
•shipwright • copyright • Nazirite
•pyrite • eyebright • nitrite • contrite
•chlorite • forthright • downright
•Fulbright • upright • meteorite
•diorite • fluorite
•Labourite (US Laborite) • sybarite
•Thatcherite • phosphorite • azurite
•anchorite • Hitlerite • dolerite
•Amorite • Minorite • laterite
•Hutterite • birthright
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"Semite." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Semite." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Semite.html "Semite." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Semite.html |
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