Relating to the Semitic languages (including Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic) or the peoples who speak them. Pertaining to a major language family of the Middle East and North Africa.
From German 'semitisch', coined in 1781 by August Ludwig von Schlözer from 'Sem' (Shem), the biblical son of Noah whose descendants were said to include various Middle Eastern peoples. The linguistic classification was developed in 19th-century comparative linguistics.
The term 'Semitic' is purely linguistic and cultural, not racial - it describes languages that share certain structural features like three-consonant root systems. Ironically, the phrase 'anti-Semitic' specifically refers to prejudice against Jews, even though Arabs also speak Semitic languages, showing how terminology can evolve beyond its original scope.
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