(Thomas), in Dutch Thomas of Erfe; a celebrated professor of the Arabic language, was born at Gorcum in Holland, in 1584, and educated at Leyden. He applied himself to the oriental languages at the persuasion of Joseph Scaliger; and afterwards travelled into England, France, Italy and Germany, and everywhere obtained the esteem of the learned. On his return to Holland, he was made professor of Arabic in the university of Leyden, and died there in 1624. He published a great many excellent works, which spread his reputation through the whole learned world. It is said, that the king of Morocco admired so greatly the letters Erpenius wrote to him in Arabic in the name of the United Provinces, that he could not cease reading them, and showing them to those who spoke that language naturally.