phylacterical
tə 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 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.
2.
(in the early Christian church) a receptacle containing a holy relic.
3.
an amulet, charm, or safeguard against harm or danger.
Origin:
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
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
Related forms
phy·lac·ter·ied, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To phylacterical
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Phylacterical
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
phylactery (fɪˈlæktərɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -teries | |
| 1. | (usually plural) Judaism Also called: Tefillah 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 |
| [C14: from Late Latin phylactērium, from Greek phulaktērion outpost, from phulax a guard] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
phylactery
c.1380, "small leathern box containing four O.T. texts," from O.Fr. filatiere (12c.), from L.L. phylacterium "reliquary," from Gk. phylacterion "safeguard, amulet," properly neut. of adj. phylakterios "serving as a protection," from phylakter "watcher, guard," from phylassein "to guard or ward off,"
from phylax (gen. phylakos) "guard," of unknown origin. Sometimes worn on the forehead, based on a literal reading of scripture:
"Ye shall bind them [my words] for a sign upon your hands, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes." [Deut. xi.18]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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