Mandaean

or Man·de·an

[man-dee-uh n]

noun

a member of an ancient Gnostic sect extant in Iraq.

the Aramaic language of the Mandaean sacred books.

adjective

of or relating to the Mandaeans.

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for mandaean

Historical Examples of mandaean

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

a member of a Gnostic sect of Iraq

the form of Aramaic used by this sect

adjective

of or relating to this sect

Derived FormsMandaeanism or Mandeanism, noun

Word Origin for Mandaean

C19: from Aramaic mandaya Gnostics, from mandā knowledge

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