phylactery

American  

[fi-lak-tuh-ree] / fɪˈlæk tə ri /

noun

phylacteries plural

1. 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.

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

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

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phylactery British  

/ fɪˈlæktərɪ /

noun

1. 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

2. a reminder or aid to remembering

3. archaic an amulet or charm

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Other Word Forms

• phylacteric
  adjective
• phylacterical
  adjective
• phylacteried
  adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

"Please! You'll ruin my grass. Put that phylactery down! Aw, you broke it. "

From The Verge • Sep. 9, 2015

Next morning, Miss Scatcherd wrote in conspicuous characters on a piece of pasteboard the word “Slattern,” and bound it like a phylactery round Helen’s large, mild, intelligent, and benign-looking forehead.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Another of the group wears his phylactery in its proper position.

From Evangelists of Art Picture-Sermons for Children by Patrick, James

He was, perhaps, something of a Civil Service Pharisee, and wore on his forehead a broad phylactery, stamped with the mark of Crown property.

From The Three Clerks by Trollope, Anthony

This brought him to the notice of a gentle-souled Portuguese of the crew, a true believer, who made friends with the Scot and earned his confidence before he learned of the shamness of the phylactery.

From The Boy Scouts Book of Stories by Louderback, Walt