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sha·mash

(shäməs, -məsh)

1. The candle used to light the other eight candles of a Hanukkah menorah.

2. A person who assists in the running of a synagogue or its religious services, especially the reading of the Torah. In both senses also called shammes.

[Hebrew šammāš, from Aramaic, servant, minister, probably from Egyptian šmsw, servant, from šms, to follow, serve.]

Sha·mash

(shämäsh′)

n.
Mythology

The Babylonian sun god, worshiped as the author of justice and compassion.

[Akkadian Šamaš, absolute form of šamšu, sun; see šmš 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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