An independent branch in the Semitic languages, niece to the Old South Arabian lects, situated in the east of Yemen and in Oman, the largest being the Mehri language extending over both countries with a six-digit speaker number, bordering, while thus embosoming the intermediary Hobyot, the Shehri (syn.: Jibbali) language in Oman, and further containing the small Bathari and Harsusi languages in Oman, + the larger Soqotri language on Soqotra.

Related or belonging to the aforementioned language group

A subfamily of extinct languages formerly spoken in southern Arabia and belonging to the Semitic family. / The abjad used to write these languages.

Synonym of Old South Arabian

Synonym of Old South Arabian

plural of Arabian mate

(chess) A checkmate pattern in which a rook provides the checkmate to the cornered king while being protected by a knight that also covers the only would-be escape square.

Of or relating to South Arabia. / A group of Semitic languages spoken in Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Eritrea.