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samurai

[ sam-oo-rahy ]

noun

, Japanese History.
, plural sam·u·rai.
  1. a member of the hereditary warrior class in feudal Japan.
  2. a retainer of a daimyo.


samurai

/ ˈsæmʊˌraɪ; ˈsæmjʊ- /

noun

  1. the Japanese warrior caste that provided the administrative and fighting aristocracy from the 11th to the 19th centuries
  2. a member of this aristocracy
“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of samurai1

1720–30; < Japanese, earlier samurafi to serve, equivalent to sa- prefix + morafi watchfully wait (frequentative of mor- to guard)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of samurai1

C19: from Japanese
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Example Sentences

I have a passion for Japan, and samurais who put intention in pouring the tea and drawing the sword — which is the opposite of modern civilization.

From Salon

The master-servant relationship from the samurai period has transitioned into the relationship between founding families and their employees, and "historically commoners never fought over the top job".

From BBC

“Samurai Delicatessen”: I loved seeing John Belushi do anything, but the samurai bits were always good, and “Samurai Delicatessen” was the topper for me.

The government would also pass a new law to ban the sale of ninja and samurai swords, she said.

From BBC

But two sisters, descendants of a disgraced samurai clan, want that box too, and the imperial secret placed within it by Emperor Meiji.

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