Pharisaic

(far′ə sāik)

adjective

  1. of the Pharisees
  2. Origin: from the notion promulgated in the N.T. that Pharisees were generally so characterized

    emphasizing or observing the letter but not the spirit of religious law; self-righteous; sanctimonious
  3. pretending to be highly moral or virtuous without actually being so; hypocritical

Origin: LL(Ec) Pharisaicus < Gr(Ec) pharisaïkos < pharisaios: see Pharisee

Related Forms:

See Pharisaic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Pharisaic also Pharisaical Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Pharisees.
  2. Hypocritically self-righteous and condemnatory.

Related Forms:

  • pharˌi·saˈi·cal·ly adverb
  • pharˌi·saˈi·cal·ness noun

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