E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Shemit’ic.
Pertaining to Shem, descendant of Shem, derived from Shem.
1
The Shemitic languages are Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic, Hebrew, Samaritan, Ethiopic, and old Phœnician. The great characteristic of this family of languages is that the roots of words consist of three consonants.
2
Shemitic nations or Shemites (2 syl.). (See above.)
