Sabaean
/səˈbiːən/noun
Relating to Saba, an ancient South Arabian kingdom and its people, language, or culture.
Did you know?Sabaean inscriptions record a civilization whose wealth was closely tied to frankincense and myrrh, substances central to ancient religious ritual and magical practice.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
שְׁבָא (Šəḇāʾ)
“Sheba, a name associated with a southern Arabian realm and its people; its precise relationship to Saba is debated.”
1st Millennium BCE
Old South Arabian
𐩪𐩨𐩱 (Sabaʾ)
“Saba, the name of the South Arabian kingdom centered in modern Yemen.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Σαβαῖοι (Sabaîoi)
“The Sabaeans, the people of Saba.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
Sabaei
“The Sabaeans or inhabitants of Saba.”
16th Century
English
Sabaean
“An English adjective and noun referring to Saba or its people, language, and civilization.”
Modern English
English
Sabaean
“Relating to the ancient Sabaean kingdom, its inscriptions, or its culture.”