Pharisee

/farrisee/

  • noun 1 a member of an ancient Jewish sect noted for their strict observance of the traditional and written law. 2 a self-righteous or hypocritical person.

  — DERIVATIVES Pharisaic /farrisayik/ adjective Pharisaical adjective.

  — ORIGIN Greek Pharisaios, from an Aramaic word meaning ‘separated ones’.

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