Due to the root word Semite, the term is prone to being invoked as a misnomer by those who interpret it as referring to racist hatred directed at all "Semitic people" (i.e., those who speak Semitic languages, such as Arabs, Assyrians, and Arameans). This usage is erroneous; the compound word antisemitismus (lit. 'antisemitism') was first used in print in Germany in 1879[17] as a "scientific-sounding term" for Judenhass (lit. 'Jew-hatred'),[18][19][20][21][22] and it has since been used to refer to anti-Jewish sentiment alone.

[–] BakedGoods@sh.itjust.works -1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Germans with poor latin doesn't change the meaning of words. Just like claiming something is "erroneous" doesn't make it so.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 7 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

The meaning is "anti-Judaism" though. You're the one wanting to define it differently. Be my guest, but it's just good to know what the term means when people use it.

[–] Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 years ago

"Anti-" is a Greek prefix and semitic is a French loanword ("sémitique") with a Hebrew root (שם - "shém" meaning name).