Samaritan

noun

Sa·​mar·​i·​tan sə-ˈmer-ə-tən 

1

: a native or inhabitant of Samaria

2

[from the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30–37] : a person who is generous in helping those in distress

samaritan adjective often capitalized

Examples of Samaritan in a Sentence

A Samaritan called a tow truck for us.

Recent Examples on the Web

Deonte's 70-year-old grandfather, James Graham; the owner of Samaritan Home Care Provider, Inc., Mirlande Moltimer Ameda; and the 33-year-old nurse assigned to care for Deonte, Cassandre Lassegue, also face charges in connection with the child's death. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024

And Leslie has taken them to veterinarians, including Blue Pearl, Animal House, Good Samaritan, and Nashville Vet Speciality, to check out the pooches. —The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

By chance, a good Samaritan passing by offered to lend his truck and trailer for our home goods. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024

The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024, which passed its final congressional hurdle this week and landed on President Joe Biden's desk, would create a pilot program consisting of 15 low-risk cleanup projects funded by non-government entities over seven years. —John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin samaritanus, noun & adjective, from Greek samaritēs inhabitant of Samaria, from Samaria

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Samaritan

• Good Samaritan