Samaritan
|Sa-mar-i-tan|
B2
/səˈmærɪtən/
compassionate helper
Etymology
Etymology Information
'Samaritan' originates from the Greek word 'Samaritēs', which referred to an inhabitant of Samaria.
Historical Evolution
'Samaritēs' transformed into the Latin word 'Samaritanus', and eventually became the modern English word 'Samaritan'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'an inhabitant of Samaria', but over time it evolved to also mean 'a compassionate person'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person from Samaria, an ancient region in the Middle East.
The Samaritan woman spoke to Jesus at the well.
Noun 2
a person who is compassionate and helpful to a person in distress.
He was a good Samaritan, helping the elderly woman cross the street.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/12 19:51