[f. prec. + -ITE.]
1. A native of Canaan. fig. ‘No true Israelite.’
1382. Wyclif, Judg. i. 32. He dwellid in the mydil of Chananei [1388 in the myddis of Cananey].
1535. Coverdale, ibid. But dwelt amonge the Cananites.
1605. Tryall Chev., II. i. in Bullen, O. Pl. (1884), III. 285. ’Zounds what foolish Canaanits were they to run in debt to their eyes for an houres sleepe sooner then they needed!
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. i. (1840), 35.
2. (more properly Cananæan): One of a Jewish sect desperate and fanatical in its opposition to the Romans: hence, a zealot, a fanatic.
1611. Bible, Matt. x. 2, 4. The names of the twelue Apostles are these:… Simon the Canaanite [1881 Revised, Cananæan.]
Hence Canaanitess, a woman of Canaan; Canaanitic, Canaanitish adjs., belonging to Canaan; of or like a Canaanite. Also fig.
1621. Ainsworth, Annot. Pentat., Numb. xxvi. 13. [Saul] the sonne of a Canaanitesse.
1882–3. Schaff, Relig. Encycl., II. 1151. The Jebusites were a Canaanitic tribe.
1535. Coverdale, Gen. xlvi. 10. The Cananitish woman.
1872. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. lx. 6. Let not Canaanitish doubts and legalisms keep thee out of the inheritance of grace.
