Hellenist

(hel’en-ist), n. [= F. helléniste = Sp. helen ist a = Pg. hellenista = It. ellen ist a, ¢ Gr. ‘EAAquiorac, in N. T. one who uses the Greek language, later eccl. sometimes for ‘Gentile,’ Hellenist Hellenize.} 1. One who is partly Greek; one who has Greek affinities, or who adopts the Greek language, manners, and customs; specifically, a Jew who used the Greek language and conformed more or le to Greek influence in the early period of Christianity, both in Palestine and in foreign countries, especially Egypt. These Jews understood Greek, and used the Greek Bible, and therefore are called Hellenists. Hammond, On Acts vi. 1. Luke, the physician and Hellenist. Schaf’, Christ and Christianity, p. 32. 2. One skilled in the Greek language and literature; a Greek scholar; a Grecian. Richard Bentley, the Master of Trinity College, and the greatest Hellenist of his age. W. Mathews, Getting on in the World, p. 250, 8. A promoter of Greek culture; specifically, one of the learned Greeks who, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, di eminated the knowledge of the Greek language and literature in Italy, and were among the chief agents of the revival of learning.