phylactery

phy·lac·ter·y

P0273500 (fĭ-lăk′tə-rē)n. pl. phy·lac·ter·ies Judaism Either of two small leather boxes, each containing strips of parchment inscribed with quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures, traditionally worn strapped to the forehead and the left arm by Jewish men during morning worship, except on the Sabbath and holidays.

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[Middle English filaterie, philacterie, from Old French filatiere, from Late Latin phylactērium, from Greek phulaktērion, guard's post, safeguard, phylactery, from phulaktēr, guard, from phulax, phulak-.]

phylactery

(fɪˈlæktərɪ) n, pl -teries1. (Judaism) Judaism (usually plural) Also called: Tefillah either of the pair of blackened square cases containing parchments inscribed with biblical passages, bound by leather thongs to the head and left arm, and worn by Jewish men during weekday morning prayers2. a reminder or aid to remembering3. archaic an amulet or charm[C14: from Late Latin phylactērium, from Greek phulaktērion outpost, from phulax a guard]

phy•lac•ter•y

(fɪˈlæk tə ri)

n., pl. -ter•ies. 1. Judaism. either of two small black leather cubes containing pieces of parchment inscribed with specific Biblical verses: worn by Orthodox or Conservative Jewish men during weekday morning prayers, one usu. strapped to the left arm, the other to the head above the hairline. 2. (in the early Christian church) a receptacle containing a holy relic. 3. an amulet or charm. [1350–1400; Middle English philaterie < Medieval Latin philatērium, Late Latin phylactērium < Greek phylaktḗrion outpost, safeguard, amulet =phylak-, s. of phylássein to protect, guard + -tērion n. suffix of place]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

phylactery - (Judaism) either of two small leather cases containing texts from the Hebrew Scriptures (known collectively as tefillin); traditionally worn (on the forehead and the left arm) by Jewish men during morning prayertefillinJudaism - the monotheistic religion of the Jews having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmudreminder - a message that helps you remember something; "he ignored his wife's reminders"

phylactery

nounA small object worn or kept for its supposed magical power:amulet, charm, fetish, juju, periapt, talisman.

Translations

filacteriaphylactèretalismanamuletamuletofilatterio