noun
(also Madianite)
A member of a nomadic people inhabiting the north-west Arabian peninsula in Old Testament times.
They are chiefly mentioned in the Old Testament books of Numbers and Judges.
adjective
(also Madianite)
Of or relating to the Midianite people.
Origin
Late Middle English; earliest use found in The Wycliffite Bible (early version). From post-classical Latin Madianites (Vulgate) from Hellenistic Greek Μαδιανίτης (Septuagint) from Μαδιάμ (from Hebrew Miḏyān Midian, name of a tribe in the Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures and also a son of Abraham by his second wife, Keturah (Genesis 25:2), from whom they were descended) + -ιτης, after Hebrew miḏyānī.
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