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Webster 1913 Edition

Phylactery

Phy-lac′ter-y

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Phylacteries
(#)
.
[OE.
filateri
, OF.
filatire
,
filatiere
, F.
phylactère
, L.
phylacterium
, Gr.
φυλακτήριον
, fr.
φυλακτήρ
a watcher, guard,
φυλάσσειν
to watch, guard. Cf.
Philatory
.]
1.
Any charm or amulet worn as a preservative from danger or disease.
2.
A small square box, made either of parchment or of black calfskin, containing slips of parchment or vellum on which are written the scriptural passages Exodus xiii. 2-10, and 11-17, Deut. vi. 4-9, 13-22. They are worn by Jews on the head and left arm, on week-day mornings, during the time of prayer.
Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
3.
Among the primitive Christians, a case in which the relics of the dead were inclosed.

Webster 1828 Edition

Phylactery

PHYLAC'TERY

,
Noun.
[Gr. to defend or guard.]
1.
In a general sense, any charm, spell or amulet worn as a preservative from danger or disease.
2.
Among the Jews, a slip of parchment on which was written some text of Scripture, particularly of the decalogue, worn by devout persons on the forehead, breast or neck as a mark of their religion.
3.
Among the primitive christians, a case in which they inclosed the relics of the dead.

Definition 2024

phylactery

phylactery

English

Noun

A phylactery in a painting.

phylactery ‎(plural phylacteries)

  1. (Judaism) Either of the two small leather cases, containing biblical scrolls, worn by Jewish men at morning prayer; the tefilla.
    • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Matthew XXIII:
      They sett abroade there philateris, and make large borders on there garmenttes, and love to sytt uppermooste at feastes [...].
    • 2005, Edward Mack, Phylactery, Nextbible.
      "Every male, who at the age of 13 becomes a "son of the Law" (bar mitswah), must wear the phylactery and perform the accompanying ceremonial."
  2. Any small object worn for its magical or supernatural power; an amulet or charm.
    • 2006, Don Skemer, Binding Words Textual Amulets in the Middle Ages. Penn State Press, 2006. p. 136n:
      "According to the decreta issued by the archbishop of Utrecht in 1372-75, the word phylactery pertained either to amulets on separate sheets or to entire books."

Synonyms

Translations

References

  1. ↑ Archbishop of Utrecht, Arnold II van Hoorn, 1372-1375.

Etymology

Recorded since circa 1380, Middle English, philaterie, either from Old French filatiere (12c.), or via Medieval Latin philaterium, an alteration of Late Latin phylacterium ‎(“reliquary”), from Ancient Greek φυλακτήριον ‎(phulaktḗrion, “safeguard, amulet”), via adjective φυλακτήριος ‎(phulaktḗrios, “serving as a protection”), from φυλακτήρ ‎(phulaktḗr, “watcher, guard”), itself from φυλάσσω ‎(phulássō, “guard or ward off”), from φύλαξ ‎(phúlax, “a guard”).[1]

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /fɪˈlaktəɹi/

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