Main Entry:

Sa·mar·i·tan

Pronunciation:

\sə-ˈmer-ə-tən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin samaritanus, noun & adjective, from Greek samaritēs inhabitant of Samaria, from Samaria

Date:

before 12th century

1: a native or inhabitant of Samaria2 [from the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30–37] : a person who is generous in helping those in distress

— samaritan adjective often capitalized