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Essene definition

Es·sene (es′ēn′, e sēn′)

noun

a member of an ancient Jewish sect of ascetics and mystics, which existed to the middle of the 1st century

Etymology: L Esseni < Gr Essēnoi, said (by Philo) to be < hosios, holy, pious, but < Syr ḥsēn, pl. < ḥsī, pious, holy

Related Forms:

  • Essenian Es·se·nian (e sē′nē ən) adjective or Essenic Es·sen′ic (e sen′ik, -sē′nik)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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