Assidean

American  

[as-i-dee-uhn] / ˌæs ɪˈdi ən /

Also Assidaean,

noun

Judaism.

1. a member of a sect, characterized by its religious zeal and piety, that flourished in the 2nd century b.c. during the time of the Maccabees and vigorously resisted the Hellenization of Jewish culture and religion.

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Etymology

Origin of Assidean

1605–15; < Greek Assidaî ( oi ) (plural) (< Hebrew hasīdhīm pious ones; cf. Hasid) + -an