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Pharisee Definition

Phari·see (far′ə sē′)

noun

  1. a member of an ancient Jewish group that carefully observed the written law but also accepted the oral, or traditional, law, advocated democratization of religious practices, etc.
  2. a pharisaic person

Etymology: 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

Pharisee Related Forms

Phar′i·see′·ism′ noun

pharisee Synonyms

pharisee

n.

fraud, faker, dissembler; see bigot, hypocrite.