Semite

Sem·ite  (smt)

n.

1. A member of a group of Semitic-speaking peoples of the Near East and northern Africa, including the Arabs, Arameans, Babylonians, Carthaginians, Ethiopians, Hebrews, and Phoenicians.

2. A Jew.

3. Bible A descendant of Shem.

---

[Back-formation from Semitic.]

---

Semite

Noun

a member of the group of peoples who speak a Semitic language, such as the Jews and Arabs [New Latin semita descendant of Shem, eldest of Noah's sons]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Semite - a member of a group of Semitic-speaking peoples of the Middle East and northern Africa Caucasian, White, White person - a member of the Caucasoid race Babylonian - an inhabitant of ancient Babylon Chaldaean, Chaldean, Chaldee - an inhabitant of ancient Chaldea Assyrian - an inhabitant of ancient Assyria Phoenician - a member of an ancient Semitic people who dominated trade in the first millennium B.C. Arab, Arabian - a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa Aramaean, Aramean - a member of one of a group of Semitic peoples inhabiting Aram and parts of Mesopotamia from the 11th to the 8th century BC Canaanite - a member of an ancient Semitic people who occupied Canaan before it was conquered by the Israelites
Adj.	1.	Semite - of or relating to or characteristic of Semites; "Semite peoples" Semitic