n. & adj.
n. 1 a member of a people opposing the Israelites in ancient Palestine. 2 (usu. philistine) a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture, or one whose interests or tastes are commonplace or material.
adj. hostile or indifferent to culture, commonplace, prosaic. philistinism n.
[ ME f. F Philistin or LL Philistinus f. Gk Philistinos = Palaistinos f. Heb. pelist ]