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Mandaean

or Man·de·an

[man-dee-uh n]
noun
  1. a member of an ancient Gnostic sect extant in Iraq.
  2. the Aramaic language of the Mandaean sacred books.
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adjective
  1. of or relating to the Mandaeans.
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Origin of Mandaean

1870–75; < Mandaean mandayy(ā) Gnostics (literally, the knowing ones) + -an
Related formsMan·dae·an·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for mandaean

Historical Examples

  • The chief depositaries of these Mandaean mysteries are the priests, who enjoy a high degree of power and social regard.

    Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 5

    Various

British Dictionary definitions for mandaean

Mandaean

Mandean

noun
  1. a member of a Gnostic sect of Iraq
  2. the form of Aramaic used by this sect
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adjective
  1. of or relating to this sect
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Derived FormsMandaeanism or Mandeanism, noun

Word Origin

C19: from Aramaic mandaya Gnostics, from mandā knowledge
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