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Philistine Definition

Phil·is·tine (fili stēn′, -stīn′; fi listin, -tēn′)

noun

  1. a member of a non-Semitic people that lived in Philistia and repeatedly warred with the Israelites
  2. Etymology: adapted < Ger Philister, orig. student slang for townspeople

    a person regarded as smugly narrow and conventional in views and tastes, lacking in and indifferent to cultural and aesthetic values

Etymology: ME < LL(Ec) Philistinus, usually pl. Philistini < LGr (Josephus) philistinoi < Heb p'lishtim; akin to Palestine

adjective

  1. of the ancient Philistines or their culture
  2. smugly conventional and lacking in culture

Philistine Related Forms

phil·is·tin·ism′ noun

philistine Synonyms

philistine

n.

conformist, conventionalist, pedant; see follower, sycophant.