hellenist Meaning, Definition & Usage

Hel"len*ist noun

Etymology

Gr. : cf. F. Helléniste.

Definitions

1. One who affiliates with Greeks, or imitates Greek manners; esp., a person of Jewish extraction who used the Greek language as his mother tongue, as did the Jews of Asia Minor, Greece, Syria, and Egypt; distinguished from the Hebraists, or native Jews (Acts vi. 1).
2. One skilled in the Greek language and literature; as, the critical Hellenist.