Nabataean

or Nab·a·te·an

[ nab-uh-tee-uhn ]

noun

1. a subject of the ancient kingdom of Nabataea.
2. the Aramaic dialect of the Nabataeans.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Nabataeans, their kingdom, or their dialect.

Nabataean

/ ˌnæbəˈtiːən /

noun

1. a member of an Arab trading people who flourished southeast of Palestine, around Petra, in the Hellenistic and Roman periods
2. the extinct form of Aramaic spoken by this people

Word History and Origins

Origin of Nabataean¹

1595–1605; < Latin Nabatae ( a ) name of kingdom + -an

Example Sentences

This is peak season of what was supposed to be a record year for tourism in Jordan’s crown jewel, the Nabataean metropolis carved into kaleidoscopic rock.

From The Guardian

"Magnificent Nabataean sites such as Mada'in Saleh in Al-`Ula are worthy rivals to Petra," Sand said.

From Fox News

The ancient Nabataean ruins in the far northwest of the country are remarkable, not just for their preserved carvings reminiscent of Petra in Jordan to the north, but also for their stark and beautiful desert setting.

From BBC

A long-lost culture known as the Nabataean civilisation inhabited the area starting from around 100 BC and persisted for some 200 years.

From BBC

The Nabataean culture left behind sophisticated stone monuments, but many sites remain unexplored.

From BBC