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   Phil·is·tine

   /ˈfiləˌstēn/

   

   noun

   • 1. a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them: "I am a complete philistine when it comes to paintings"

   adjective

   • 1. hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts: "there were displays to inspire even the most philistine of visitors"

   Word Origin early 19th century: from Philistine, originally with reference to a confrontation between university students and townspeople in Jena, Germany, in the late 17th century; a sermon on the conflict quoted ‘the Philistines are upon you’ (Judges 16), which led to an association between the townspeople and those hostile to culture.

   Derivatives

   • 1. philistinism noun

   Scrabble Points: 15

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