Semitic

Meanings

Adjective

Proper Noun

  • The Semitic languages in general.

Origin

  • From Semite + -ic (18th century), from German semitisch, from Ancient Greek Σημ, from the Hebrew שֵׁם, 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. The word was coined and first applied to the Semitic languages by August Ludwig von Schlözer in 1781.

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