Pharisee

Meaning

1. (historical) A member of an ancient Jewish political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era (536 B.C.E.–70 C.E.). The movement was ultimately the basis for most contemporary forms of Judaism.
2. (broadly, derogatory, figuratively) A person who values the letter of the law over its spirit or intention.

Synonyms

pharisee

formalist

hypocrite

Jesuit

Translations

pharisien

farizeeër

fariseo

Pharisäer

fariseo

fariseu

huichelaar

fariseus

Ferisi

riyakar

fariseu

farisi

Heuchler

Scheinheiliger

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfɛɹɪsiː/

Etymology

Cognate with Hebrew: פרוש

In summary

From Latin Pharisaeus, from Ancient Greek Φαρισαῖος (Pharisaîos), a transliteration of Aramaic פְּרִישַׁיָּא (pərîšayyâ’), emphatic plural of פְּרִישׁ (pərîš, “separatist”, literally “separated”), related to Hebrew פרוש (parush), qal passive participle of the verb פָּרַשׁ (pāraš), meaning one who is separated for a life of purity.