[Sem.ite] n [F semite, fr. Sem Shem, fr. LL, fr. Gk Sem, fr. Heb Shem] (1848) 1 a: a member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs b: a descendant of these peoples
2: a member of a modern people speaking a Semitic language