Chaldean

[kal-dee-uh n]

noun

one of an ancient Semitic people that formed the dominant element in Babylonia.

the indigenous Semitic language of the Chaldeans, Aramaic being used as an auxiliary language.

Biblical Aramaic.

an astrologer, soothsayer, or enchanter. Dan. 1:4; 2:2.

adjective

of or belonging to ancient Chaldea.

pertaining to astrology, occult learning, etc.

Also Chal·dee

[kal-dee, kal-dee] /kælˈdi, ˈkæl di/.

Origin of Chaldean

1575–85; < Latin Chaldae(us) (< Greek Chaldaîos Chaldaea, an astrologer) + -an

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chaldee

Historical Examples of chaldee

He next proceeded to learn the Chaldee, Syriac, and Samaritan dialects.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
That is, as the Chaldee explaineth it, a hundred for one, when he measured it.
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne
Thomas Browne
The brazen serpent was called the Word by the Chaldee paraphrast.
Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions
T. W. Doane
The skin, as compared with his own, was very dark; yet it was whiter than that of any other Chaldee.
Istar of Babylon
Margaret Horton Potter
The Chaldee paraphrase (less frequently some other version) may be added.
Companion to the Bible
E. P. Barrows

British Dictionary definitions for chaldee

Chaldee

noun

a nontechnical term for Biblical Aramaic, which was once believed to be the language of the ancient Chaldeans

the actual language of the ancient ChaldeansSee also Chaldean (def. 2)

an inhabitant of ancient Chaldea; a Chaldean

Also (for senses 1, 2): Chaldaic (kælˈdeɪɪk)

Chaldean

Chaldaean

noun

a member of an ancient Semitic people who controlled S Babylonia from the late 8th to the late 7th century bc

the dialect of Babylonian spoken by this people

adjective

of or relating to the ancient Chaldeans or their language

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

Word Origin and History for chaldee

Chaldean

adj.

with + -an + Latin Chaldaeus, from Greek Khaldaios, from Aramaic Kaldaie, from Akkadian (mat)Kaldu "the Chaldeans."