/sem"uyt/ or, esp. Brit., /see"muyt/ , n.
1. a member of any of various ancient and modern peoples originating in southwestern Asia, including the Akkadians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs.
2. a Jew.
3. a member of any of the peoples descended from Shem, the eldest son of Noah.
[ 1870-75; semita Sem ( Sém Shem SHEM) + -ita -ITE 1 ]