philistine English · revision 1319

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɪlɪstaɪn/ ''(UK)''; /ˈfɪlɪˌstaɪn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from the name of the [[Philistine|alt=Philistines]], a people of ancient Palestine who fought the Israelites,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) through Late Latin ''Philistīnī'' and Greek ''Philistînoi'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from [[hbo|פְּלִשְׁתִּים|tr=Pəlištîm|t=people of Philistia]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) The modern sense translates German ''Philister''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One of the Philistines (early 14th century).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From about 1600 the name was used humorously of anyone regarded as an enemy, such as bailiffs or critics.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) In German student slang, supposedly first at Jena in the late 17th century, ''Philister'' meant a townsman as opposed to a student,^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(OED 1989) and so any uncultured person.^(Etymonline) Thomas Carlyle introduced this sense to English in 1827,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) and Matthew Arnold popularized it.^(Etymonline) A philistine is someone indifferent or hostile to art and culture.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 14th century – one of the Philistines.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1600 – an enemy into whose hands one may fall.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1824 – a non-student, translating German ''Philister''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1827 – an uncultured person, in Carlyle.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1831 – adjective, uncultured.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who is indifferent or hostile to art, culture and intellectual pursuits.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person ignorant of a particular subject.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(capitalized)'' A member of an ancient people of [[Philistia]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Uncultured and commonplace in taste.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[philistinism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Palestine]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''Babbitt'', ''vulgarian'' and ''lowbrow'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}