Samaritans
/ˈsæm.ə.rɪtənz/noun
Members of a religious and ethnic community originating in ancient Samaria, or, more generally, people who show compassionate help to others.
Did you know?The “Good Samaritan” in the New Testament transformed an ethnonym — the name of a real ancient community — into one of the most famous symbols of compassionate action in Western culture.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Antiquity
Hebrew/Aramaic
šōmrōn / shomeron
“Samaria, the name of the northern Israelite capital and region.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Samaritēs
“A Samaritan; a person from Samaria.”
Late Latin
Latin
Samaritanus
“A Samaritan.”
Old French
Old French
Samaritain
“A Samaritan.”
Middle English
English
Samaritane
“A Samaritan; later, a charitable or compassionate helper.”
Modern English
English
Samaritan
“A member of the Samaritan community; especially, a kind and helpful person.”