Definition of "Aramaic"

A subfamily of languages in the Northwest Semitic language group including (but not limited to):

1. The language of the Aramaeans from the tenth century BC: often called Old Aramaic.  examples

2. The language of the administration in the Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian empires from the seventh to fourth centuries BC: often called Imperial Aramaic or Official Aramaic.  examples

3. The language of portions of the Hebrew Bible, mainly the books of Ezra and Daniel: often called Biblical Aramaic.  examples

4. The language of Jesus of Nazareth: a form of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic or Galilean Aramaic.  examples

5. The language of Jewish targums, Midrash and the Talmuds, Jewish Babylonian Aramaic.  examples

6. The liturgical language of various Christian churches: often called Syriac.  examples

7. The liturgical language of the Mandaeans: usually called Mandaic.  examples

8. Any language of this family today called Neo-Aramaic, and separated by religion also Judeo-Aramaic and Syriac  examples

Referring to the Aramaic language, alphabet, culture or poetry.  examples

An Aramaean.  examples