Melchite

noun

Mel·​chite ˈmel-ˌkīt 

variants or Melkite

1

: an Eastern Christian chiefly of Syria and Egypt adhering to Chalcedonian orthodoxy in preference to Monophysitism

2

: a member of a Uniate body derived from the Melchites

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Melchita, from Middle Greek Melchitēs, from Syriac malkāyā, from malkā king

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1