Samaritan

[ suh-mar-i-tn ]

noun

1. an inhabitant of Samaria.
2. good Samaritan.
3. any of the dialects of Aramaic spoken by the Samaritans in ancient Israel and until recently still spoken in Nablus.

adjective

1. pertaining to Samaria or to Samaritans.

Samaritan

/ səˈmærɪtən /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Samaria
2. short for Good Samaritan
3. a member of a voluntary organization ( the Samaritans ) which offers counselling to people in despair, esp by telephone
4. the dialect of Aramaic spoken in Samaria

adjective

1. of or relating to Samaria

Derived Forms

• Saˈmaritanism, noun

Other Words From

• Sa·mar·i·tan·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Samaritan¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English, from Late Latin plural adjective and noun Samarītānī “Samaritan, Samaritans” (from Greek Samarī́t(ēs) “a Samaritan,” derivative of Samáreia “Samaria”)

Idioms and Phrases

see good Samaritan .

Example Sentences

They include both parents of a 2-year-old boy who was found alone and rescued by a good Samaritan in the aftermath of the shooting, and grandparents who had gone to the parade with their families.

From Time

He wandered around from post to post, street to street, the good doctor Samaritan in search of someone to save.

From Washington Post

The Samaritan guidelines are written around the assumption that suicide is a purely irrational act, an act spurred by illness.

From The Daily Beast

Thanks Rovell for pointing that out, all part of being a Good Samaritan, right?

From The Daily Beast

In one of my homicides, I had one wonderful witness, a legit Good Samaritan with 20-20 vision and photographic memory.

From The Daily Beast

Hence, the need for more “good Samaritan” laws that protect people who call for help when someone is overdosing.

From The Daily Beast

She flagged down the Irvine bus and spoke to an unidentified good samaritan, who brought her to her office and called the police.

From The Daily Beast

Several rabbis assert that the Samaritan was the original tongue; other persons say that it was that of Lower Brittany.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a good Samaritan and unafraid, who is affectionately remembered by a grateful foe.

From Project Gutenberg

I came upon your little daughter not long since playing the part of the Good Samaritan to Raulsburys poor old horse.

From Project Gutenberg

Yes, you find people ready enough to do the good Samaritan without the oil and twopence.

From Project Gutenberg

The words and the expressions on the countenances of the others caused the truth to flash upon the good Samaritan.

From Project Gutenberg