Shem

noun

: the eldest son of Noah held to be the progenitor of the Semitic peoples

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew Shēm

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Shem was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Shem

Cite this Entry

“Shem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Shem. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Shem

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!