Rechabite

noun

Rech·​ab·​ite

ˈrekəˌbīt

plural -s

1

: a member of a family group in ancient Israel that lived in tents rather than in houses and abstained from drinking wine

2

: an abstainer from intoxicating drinks

especially : a member of a benefit society founded in England in 1835 and dedicated to total abstinence

3

: one who lives in tents

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin Rechabitae (plural), from Hebrew Rēkhābh Rechab, ancestor of the family (Jeremiah 35:2) + Latin -ita -ite

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!