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Pharisee
//ˈfɛɹɪsiː// noun
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A member of an ancient Jewish political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era (536 B.C.E.–70 C.E.). The movement was ultimately the basis for most contemporary forms of Judaism. historical
"Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
- 2 a member of an ancient Jewish sect noted for strict obedience to Jewish traditions wordnet
- 3 A person who values the letter of the law over its spirit or intention. broadly, derogatory, figuratively
"He was, and is yet most likely, the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbours."
- 4 a self-righteous or sanctimonious person wordnet
Etymology
From Latin Pharisaeus, from Ancient Greek Φαρισαῖος (Pharisaîos), a transliteration of Aramaic פְּרִישַׁיָּא (pərîšayyâ’), emphatic plural of פְּרִישׁ (pərîš, “separatist”, literally “separated”), related to Hebrew פרוש (parush), qal passive participle of the verb פָּרַשׁ (pāraš), meaning one who is separated for a life of purity.
See also for "pharisee"
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