Samaritan

noun

Sa·​mar·​i·​tan sə-ˈmer-ə-tən How to pronounce Samaritan (audio)
1
: a native or inhabitant of Samaria
2
[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

Examples of Samaritan in a Sentence

A Samaritan called a tow truck for us.
Recent Examples on the Web Does Good Samaritan not care about the environment? Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 May 2024 The 2024 nonprofit honorees include Beech Acres Parenting Center, Findlay Market, Good Samaritan Free Health Center, and SuperSeeds. Cincinnati Enquirer Staff, The Enquirer, 19 May 2024 The Good Samaritan who spotted the feline took the pet to a local vet and dropped the animal off to get help. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024 Good Samaritan Retirement, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 23 at 1515 Jamacha Way, El Cajon. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2024 The driver was able to get off the bus, and a good Samaritan picked him up and took him to Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2024 The mother/son pair made their way to the Arizona Humane Society earlier this year as sick strays when a Good Samaritan found them with kitty colds in early May. The Arizona Republic, 10 May 2024 On April 24, Arizona Humane Society (AHS) dispatchers received a call about a canine in distress who was spotted by the good Samaritan hiding in a small, rocky cutout on the side of Lookout Mountain in Phoenix, according to a release from the animal organization. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 5 May 2024 Prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo that Samuels had flagged down a passerby who was driving a truck, placed a dying Sandoval into the bed, then drove away in his own Honda, leaving the good Samaritan to take her the rest of the way to the hospital. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 4 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Samaritan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Samaritan was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Samaritan

Cite this Entry

“Samaritan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Samaritan. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.

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