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Mes·si·ah

(mĭ-sīə)

1. also Mes·si·as (mĭ-sīəs) The anticipated savior of the Jews. Used with the.

2. also Messias Christianity Jesus. Used with the.

3. messiah One who is anticipated as, regarded as, or professes to be a savior or liberator.

[Middle English Messias, Messie, from Old French Messie, from Late Latin Messīās, from Greek, from Aramaic məšiḥā, the anointed one (from məšaḥ, to anoint) or Hebrew māšîaḥ, anointed (from māšaḥ, to anoint); see mšḥ in the Appendix of Semitic roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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