Nazarite

or Naz·i·rite

[ naz-uh-rahyt ]

/ ˈnæz əˌraɪt /

noun

(among the ancient Hebrews) a person who had taken certain strict religious vows, usually for a limited period.

Rare. a Nazarene.

Rare. Christ.

Obsolete. a Christian.

Origin of Nazarite

1550–60; < Late Latin Nāzar(aeus) (< Greek Nāzēraîos, equivalent to nāzēr (< Hebrew nāzīr consecrated person) + -aios suffix) + -ite¹

Related forms

Naz·a·rit·ic

[naz-uh-rit-ik] /ˌnæz əˈrɪt ɪk/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nazarite

He shall be a Nazarite, one separated and consecrated to God by a vow.
Ortus Christi|Mother St. Paul
This was the Nazarite's banner with victory already written upon it.
The Influence of Buddhism on Primitive Christianity|Arthur Lillie
The institution of the Nazarite will confirm this, and will also bring out very clearly what separation means.
Holy in Christ|Andrew Murray
But a Nazarite was the designation of an order, not a name for the dweller in any particular locality.
The Supernatural Claims Of Christianity Tried By Two Of Its Own Rules|Lionel Lisle

The vows of the Nazarite were dutiful under the former dispensation.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham

British Dictionary definitions for nazarite (1 of 2)

Nazarite

/ (ˈnæzəˌraɪt) /

noun

another word for Nazarene (def. 1), Nazarene (def. 2)

British Dictionary definitions for nazarite (2 of 2)

Nazarite

Nazirite

/ (ˈnæzəˌraɪt) /

noun

a religious ascetic of ancient Israel

Word Origin for Nazarite

C16: from Latin Nazaraeus, from Hebrew nāzīr, from nāzar to consecrate + -ite 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012