phylactery

[ fi-lak-tuh-ree ]
See synonyms for phylactery on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural phy·lac·ter·ies.
  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.

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

Origin of phylactery

1
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, adjective
  • phy·lac·ter·ied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for phylactery

phylactery

/ (fɪˈlæktərɪ) /


nounplural -teries
  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

  1. archaic an amulet or charm

Origin of phylactery

1
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