phylactery
[ fi-lak-tuh-ree ]
/ fɪˈlæk tə ri /
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 Deut. 6, 13–21 of Deut. 11, and 1–16 of Ex. 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.
Origin of phylactery
1350–1400; < Late Latin
phylactērium < Greek
phylaktḗrion outpost, safeguard, amulet, equivalent to
phylak-, stem of
phylássein to protect, guard +
-tērion noun suffix denoting place; replacing Middle English
philaterie < 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, adjective phy·lac·ter·ied, adjectiveWords nearby phylactery
phycomycete,
phycomycosis,
phyfe,
phyl-,
phyla,
phylactery,
phylactic,
phylakopi,
phylaxis,
phyle,
phyletic
Example sentences from the Web for phylactery
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