Pharisee

  • 1Pharisee — Phar i*see (f[a^]r [i^]*s[=e]), n. [L. Pharisaeus, Gr. Farisai^os, from Heb. p[=a]rash to separate.] One of a sect or party among the Jews, noted for a strict and formal observance of rites and ceremonies and of the traditions of the elders, and… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Pharisee — O.E. Fariseos, O.Fr. pharise (13c.), both from L.L. Pharisæus, from Gk. Pharisaios, from Aramaic p rishayya, emphatic plural of p rish separated, separatist, corresponding to Hebrew parush, from parash he separated. Ancient Jewish sect (2c. B.C.E …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 3Pharisee — ► NOUN 1) a member of an ancient Jewish sect noted for their strict observance of the traditional and written law. 2) a self righteous or hypocritical person. DERIVATIVES Pharisaic adjective Pharisaical adjective. ORIGIN Greek Pharisaios, from an …

    English terms dictionary

  • 4Pharisee — [far′ə sē΄] n. [ME pharise < OE fariseus & OFr pharisé, both < LL(Ec) Pharisaeus < Gr(Ec) pharasaios < Aram perishaiya, pl. of perish < Heb parush, orig. adj., separated < root prš, cleave, separate] 1. a member of an ancient… …

    English World dictionary

  • 5pharisee — UK [ˈfærɪsiː] / US [ˈferəˌsɪ] noun [countable] Word forms pharisee : singular pharisee plural pharisees 1) Pharisee a member of an ancient Jewish religious group who believed that people should obey religious laws in a strict way 2) someone who… …

    English dictionary

  • 6Pharisee — noun a) A member of a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era (536 –70 ). The movement was ultimately the basis for most contemporary forms of Judaism. The spider fattens …

    Wiktionary

  • 7pharisee — Synonyms and related words: Holy Willie, Joseph Surface, Mawworm, Pecksniff, Pharisee, Tartuffe, affecter, canter, canting hypocrite, dissembler, dissimulator, fair weather friend, false friend, formalist, hypocrite, lip, lip server, lip… …

    Moby Thesaurus

  • 8pharisee — phar|i|see [ ferə,si ] noun count 1. ) Pharisee a member of an ancient Jewish religious group who believed that people should obey religious laws in a strict way 2. ) someone who pretends to be very religious or moral, but is not …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 9pharisee — noun (C) 1 someone who pretends to be religious or to be concerned about morals 2 Pharisee a member of a group of Jews who lived at the time of Christ and who believed in strictly obeying religious laws pharisaic adjective …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10pharisee — /ˈfærəsi/ (say faruhsee) noun a pharisaic, self righteous, or hypocritical person. {from Pharisee} …