Saracen

[ sar-uh-suhn ]

noun
  1. History/Historical. a member of any of the nomadic tribes on the Syrian borders of the Roman Empire.

  2. (in later use) an Arab.

  1. a Muslim, especially in the period of the Crusades.

adjective
  1. Also Sar·a·cen·ic [sar-uh-sen-ik], /ˌsær əˈsɛn ɪk/, Sar·a·cen·i·cal. of or relating to the Saracens.

Origin of Saracen

1
before 900; Middle English, Old English <Medieval Latin Saracēnus<Late Greek Sarakēnós

Other words from Saracen

  • Sar·a·cen·ism, noun

Words Nearby Saracen

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How to use Saracen in a sentence

  • The remark “is totally going to lose him the Norman, Druid, Jute and Saracen vote,” one wit commented.

  • Then their ship made anchor off the old Saracen castle of Castellamare, where now lay the Norman garrison.

    God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis
  • A Saracen physician said he was fearfully smitten, but that life was strong within him, and he would live.

    God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis
  • Only the Emir Iftikhar communed darkly with his own heart, and with certain sworn followers of his in the Saracen guard.

    God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis
  • Beside him lies a beautiful female Saracen slave, while at his feet a male Saracen comes to surrender his treasure!

British Dictionary definitions for Saracen

Saracen

/ (ˈsærəsən) /


noun
  1. history a member of one of the nomadic Arabic tribes, esp of the Syrian desert, that harassed the borders of the Roman Empire in that region

    • a Muslim, esp one who opposed the crusades

    • (in later use) any Arab

adjective
  1. of or relating to Arabs of either of these periods, regions, or types

  2. designating, characterizing, or relating to Muslim art or architecture

Origin of Saracen

1
C13: from Old French Sarrazin, from Late Latin Saracēnus, from Late Greek Sarakēnos, perhaps from Arabic sharq sunrise, from shāraqa to rise

Derived forms of Saracen

  • Saracenic (ˌsærəˈsɛnɪk) or Saracenical, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012