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phylactery

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phy⋅lac⋅ter⋅y

  [fi-lak-tuh-ree]
Use phylactery in a Sentence
–noun, plural -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; < LL phylactērium < Gk phylaktrion outpost, safeguard, amulet, equiv. to phylak-, s. of phylássein to protect, guard + -tērion n. suffix denoting place; r. ME philaterie < ML philatērium, for LL, as above

Related forms:
phyl⋅ac⋅ter⋅ic  [fil-ak-ter-ik] , phyl⋅ac⋅ter⋅i⋅cal, adjective
phy⋅lac⋅ter⋅ied, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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phy·lac·ter·y   (fĭ-lāk'tə-rē)   
n.   pl. phy·lac·ter·ies

  1. Judaism Either of two small leather boxes, each containing strips of parchment inscribed with quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures, one of which is strapped to the forehead and the other to the left arm; traditionally worn by Jewish men during morning worship, except on the Sabbath and holidays.

    1. An amulet.

    2. A reminder.


[Middle English filaterie, philacterie, from Old French filatiere, from Late Latin phylactērium, from Greek phulaktērion, guard's post, safeguard, phylactery, from phulaktēr, guard, from phulax, phulak-.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia

phylactery

in Jewish religious practice, one of two small, black leather, cube-shaped cases containing Torah texts written on parchment, which, in accordance with Deuteronomy 6:8 (and similar statements in Deuteronomy 11:18 and Exodus 13:9, 16), are to be worn by male Jews of 13 years and older as reminders of God and of the obligation to keep the Law during daily life. The name phylactery is derived from the Greek phylakterion, meaning amulet.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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