mes·si·ah \mə̇ˈsīə\noun (-s) Etymology: Hebrew māshīaḥ & Aramaic mĕshīḥā anointed, Messiah 1. a.: an expected deliverer or savior b.usually capitalized: the expected king and deliverer of the Jews 2.: one accepted as or claiming to be a leader destined to bring about a desired state or condition < security, which the political messiahs promise — Vardis Fisher > < our self-appointed moral messiahs — Asher Moore >