What does "pharisaism" mean?
The doctrines and practices, or the character and spirit, of the Pharisees.
Pharisaism
/ˈfaɹ.ɪˌseɪ.ɪz.(ə)m/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The doctrines and practices, or the character and spirit, of the Pharisees.
- Grammar: pharisaism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cant, dissimulation, falseness, hypocrisy.
- Usage evidence: Since Paul lived and worked in the greater Syrian area as a Pharisee, it is somewhat probable that Pharisaism had some influence there and that some Pharisees lived outside Jerusalem and Judea. […] Paul never says where he made contact with Pharisaism, in Tarsus, Syria, or Jerusalem. […] The evidence concerning Pharisaism is so slim that we do not know how Paul came to know about Pharisaism, why he was attracted to it, and what being a Pharisee entailed.
How to use "pharisaism"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
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Check whether "pharisaism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 The doctrines and practices, or the character and spirit, of the Pharisees. countable, uncountable
"Since Paul lived and worked in the greater Syrian area as a Pharisee, it is somewhat probable that Pharisaism had some influence there and that some Pharisees lived outside Jerusalem and Judea. […] Paul never says where he made contact with Pharisaism, in Tarsus, Syria, or Jerusalem. […] The evidence concerning Pharisaism is so slim that we do not know how Paul came to know about Pharisaism, why he was attracted to it, and what being a Pharisee entailed."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of pharisaism. alt-of, uncountable
"The man who thinks that his religion is the sum-total of the religious dogmas he believes in, who thinks that to live in harmony with the allhood of things it requires only that one subscribe to certain prescribed religious dogmas, in whose mind the means of salvation is simply frequency and fervency of prayer, assiduity and fidelity of attendance on worship, — in the case of that man his so-called religion is just as apt as not to become an actual aid to immorality, for it is not religion at all, but purblind, self-righteous Pharisaism."
- 3 Rigid observance of external forms of religion without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion; a censorious, self-righteous spirit in matters of morals or manners. countable, uncountable
"[T]he Phariſee faſted twice every weeke, and that never cenſured in him as a peice of Phariſaiſme, or hypocriſie, or fault of any kind; but as commendable, if he had not boaſted of it."
Example
"Since Paul lived and worked in the greater Syrian area as a Pharisee, it is somewhat probable that Pharisaism had some influence there and that some Pharisees lived outside Jerusalem and Judea. […] Paul never says where he made contact with Pharisaism, in Tarsus, Syria, or Jerusalem. […] The evidence concerning Pharisaism is so slim that we do not know how Paul came to know about Pharisaism, why he was attracted to it, and what being a Pharisee entailed."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pharisaism"?
Common synonyms include: cant, dissimulation, falseness, hypocrisy, insincerity, legalism.
How do you use "pharisaism" in a sentence?
Since Paul lived and worked in the greater Syrian area as a Pharisee, it is somewhat probable that Pharisaism had some influence there and that some Pharisees lived outside Jerusalem and Judea. […] Paul never says where he made contact with Pharisaism, in Tarsus, Syria, or Jerusalem. […] The evidence concerning Pharisaism is so slim that we do not know how Paul came to know about Pharisaism, why he was attracted to it, and what being a Pharisee entailed.
How do you pronounce "pharisaism"?
Pronounced /ˈfaɹ.ɪˌseɪ.ɪz.(ə)m/.
Etymology
From Late Latin Pharisaismus, from Pharĭsaeus (“Pharisee”) + -ismus (“-ism”); compare French Pharisaïsme, Italian Fariseismo (archaic), farisaismo.