Idumæan, n. and a.
(aɪdjuːˈmiːən, ɪd-)
Also -ean.
[f. L. Idūmæa, a. Gr. Ἰδουµαία, f. Heb. Edōm Edom + -an.]
A. n. A member of the race inhabiting Idumæa. B. adj. Of or belonging to Idumæa or Edom, an ancient kingdom situated between Egypt and Palestine.
| c 897 ælfred tr. Gregory's Pastoral Care (1871) 387 Ezechiel... cwæð ðæt hie wolden weorðan forlorene & oferwunnene mid orsorgnesse, swa swa Idumeas wæron. 1382 Wyclif 3 Kings xi. 1 Forsothe kyng Salomon to brennyngly louede many hethen wymmen, the douȝter forsothe of Pharao, and Moabitis, and Amonytis, and Ydumees, and Cidonees, and Ethees. 1537 tr. Original & Sprynge of Sectes 55 Idumeans. 1602 Lodge tr. Josephus' Workes 679 Simon the sonne of Cathla,..spake vnto the Idumæans from a tower, and commanded them to cast down their armes. 1737 W. Whiston tr. Josephus' Works 381 He fell upon the Idumeans, the posterity of Esau, at Acrabattene. 1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 437/1 The Idumæans marched to the assistance of Jerusalem when it was besieged by Titus. 1863 Chambers's Encycl. V. 343/1 The family was of Idumean descent. Ibid. 499/2 The Idumæan, Antipater. 1880 Encycl. Brit. XI. 754/1 Herod was the name of a family of Idumæan origin. 1936 C. Roth Short Hist. Jewish People viii. 78 The age-long enmity between the Jews and Idumaeans (Edomites), which had found its expression in the raids of Judah the Maccabee, culminated in the final subjection of the country. 1968 P. Needham tr. Gelzer's Caesar v. 251 The Idumaean Antipater, the minister of the Jewish High Priest Hyrcanus. |