A person who helps others in need, especially with no expectation of reward; from the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan.
From 'Samaria,' a biblical region. The term gained its charitable meaning from Jesus's parable about a Samaritan helping a stranger, despite cultural enmity. Now used in 'Good Samaritan' laws.
The 'Good Samaritan' parable is so influential it completely changed what a word means—Samaritans were originally just regional people, but Jesus's story turned them into symbols of unexpected kindness and helped create legal protections for helpers.
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