phylactery

[ fi-lak-tuh-ree ]

/ fɪˈlæk tə ri /

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See synonyms for phylactery on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural phy·lac·ter·ies.

Judaism. either of two small, black, leather cubes containing a piece of parchment inscribed with verses 4–9 of Deuteronomy 6, 13–21 of Deuteronomy 11, and 1–16 of Exodus 13: one is attached with straps to the left arm and the other to the forehead during weekday morning prayers by Orthodox and Conservative Jewish men.

(in the early Christian church) a receptacle containing a holy relic.

an amulet, charm, or safeguard against harm or danger.

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Origin of phylactery

First recorded 1350–1400; from Late Latin phylactērium, from Greek phylaktḗrion “outpost, safeguard, amulet,” equivalent to phylak-, stem of phylássein “to protect, guard” + -tērion noun suffix denoting place; replacing Middle English philaterie, from Medieval Latin philatērium, for Late Latin, as above

OTHER WORDS FROM phylactery

phyl·ac·ter·ic

[fil-ak-ter-ik], /ˌfɪl ækˈtɛr ɪk/, phyl·ac·ter·i·cal, adjectivephy·lac·ter·ied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use phylactery in a sentence

The Jews had regard for their phylacteries, and the Greeks and Romans had their amulets.
Chats on Household Curios|Fred W. Burgess
The Council of Laodicea forbade ecclesiastics to wear amulets and phylacteries, on pain of degradation.
The Mysteries of All Nations|James Grant
The father was put in prison, where he committed suicide by hanging himself with his phylacteries.
Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ|Rev. A. Bernstein, B.D.
Women, slaves, and minors are not commanded to read the Shemang, or to wear phylacteries.
The Worlds Greatest Books, Volume XIII.|Various

I drink, I smoke on the Sabbath, I do not lay the phylacteries.
Against the Current|Edward A. Steiner

British Dictionary definitions for phylactery

phylactery

/ (fɪˈlæktərɪ) /

noun plural -teries

Also called: Tefillah Judaism (usually plural) 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 prayers

a reminder or aid to remembering

archaic an amulet or charm

Word Origin for phylactery

C14: from Late Latin phylactērium, from Greek phulaktērion outpost, from phulax a guard

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

phylactery

Origin of phylactery

OTHER WORDS FROM phylactery

Words related to phylactery

How to use phylactery in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for phylactery

Word Origin for phylactery