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Glite Dictionary
Semitist

Semitist

1 9.9
A person who studies languages like Hebrew or Arabic and their cultures
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛmɪtɪst/
  • Specialized
: semitista
  • Dr. Cohen is a renowned Semitist.

Examples

  • Many universities invite a Semitist to lecture on the history of Semitic peoples.

  • As a dedicated Semitist, he worked to preserve endangered Semitic languages.

  • The renowned Semitist published several books on ancient Hebrew inscriptions.

  • Many Semitists attended the conference last week.

  • After studying Hebrew and Arabic for years, she became a respected semitist in her university.

  • As a semitist, he published several articles on the cultural influences of ancient Semitic societies.

  • The semitist gave a fascinating lecture on the evolution of the Aramaic language.

Surface Forms

Semitist singular
Semitists plural

Morphology

Semitist = Semite (transparent) = semit + ist

Formed by a clear addition of the agentive suffix '-ist' to the stem referring to Semitic people/languages, yielding 'specialist in Semitic studies.'

Etymology

The word Semitist comes from Semite, which comes from the Bible name Shem, thought to be an ancestor of many Middle Eastern peoples. The ending -ist means 'person who studies', as in artist or scientist, so a Semitist is someone who studies Semitic languages or cultures.