samaritan

noun

1. A native, or inhabitant of Samaria; especially one practising certain ethnoreligious traditions indigenous to that region.

   “Many of these despised people built a rival temple on Mount Gerizim in the central Palestinian territory known as Samaria, and hence they were called Samaritans (a word of contempt to Jews); in very reduced numbers, they still live round their sacred mountain now.”

2. A charitable person, one who helps others (from the Bible story in Luke 10:30–37).
3. (UK)A person who works for the Samaritans telephone helpline, taking calls from suicidal members of the public.
4. a Good Samaritan

adj

1. (not-comparable)Of, or relating to Samaria or Samaritans.

name

1. The ancient language of Samaria: a dialect of Hebrew.