Philistine

Meanings

Noun

• A non-Semitic person from ancient Philistia, a region in the southwest Levant in the Middle East.
• A person who is opposed to oneself; an enemy, a foe.
• In German universities: a person not associated with the university; a non-academic or non-student; a townsperson.
• Alternate spelling of philistine

Adjective

• Originating from ancient Philistia; of or pertaining to the ancient Philistines.
• Alternate spelling of philistine.

Origin

• , from Old French Philistin (modern French Philistin) and Late Latin Philistinus, from Koine Greek Φυλιστῖνοι, a variant of Φυλιστιίμ, Φυλιστιείμ (compare Koine Greek Παλαιστῖνοι), from Hebrew פְּלִשְׁתִּים, from פְּלִשְׁתִּי, from פְּלֶשֶׁת. The English word is cognate with Akkadian 𒆳𒉿𒇺𒋫, 𒆳𒉺𒆷𒊍𒌓, 𒆳𒉿𒇺𒋫𒀀𒀀, and is a Palestine.
• The archaic noun plural form Philistim is from Middle English Philistiim , from Late Latin Philisthiim, from Koine Greek Φυλιστιίμ, Φυλιστιείμ; see further above.
• The adjective is derived from the noun.