Ar|ab

Ar|ab «AR uhb», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a) a person born or living in Arabia, or other Arabic-speaking country. b) a member of the Semitic people of the Arabian peninsula. The Arabs are now widely scattered over southwestern and southern Asia and north, east, and central Africa.

2. = Arabian horse. (Cf. ↑Arabian horse)

–adj.

of the Arabs; of Arabia: »

An Arab maiden brought his food (Shelley).

╂[< French Arabe, learned borrowing from Latin Arabs, -abis < Greek Araps, -abos of Arabia < Arabic ‘arabī]

Usage Arab, Arabian, Arabic are rarely if ever interchangeable as synonyms in modern use. Arab now most commonly applies specifically to the people or to their culture: »

the Arab world. Lawrence's Arab forces supported Allenby's English.

Arabian, a more historical term, applies to the somewhat vaguely defined territory which is traditionally recognized as the home of these people: »

the barren Arabian sands.

Arabic applies to the written language of the Arabs, their many spoken dialects, and by extension their literature and other products of their culture: »

Arabic poetry.

Arab.,

1. Arabian.

2. Arabic.