phylactery English · revision 1267

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fɪˈlæktəɹi/ ''(UK)''; /fəˈlæktəɹi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''filaterie'', ''philaterie'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|fro|filatiere]]^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and [[der|la-med|philaterium]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) an alteration of Late Latin ''phylactērium'' “reliquary”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|φυλακτήριον|tr=phulaktḗrion|t=safeguard, amulet; guard post]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''phulássein'' “to guard”, from ''phúlax'' “guard”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A small leather box containing passages of Scripture, worn by Jewish men on the arm and forehead (about 1380–84).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The custom is based on a literal reading of Deuteronomy 11:18, which bids the words of the Law to be bound on the hand and between the eyes.^(Etymonline) The word was also used for a case holding a holy relic (1398),^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) an amulet worn against disease (1693),^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and figuratively a reminder or an ostentatious display of piety (1645).^(OED 1989)^(AHD) In medieval art it named a scroll showing a figure's words.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1380 – a Jewish prayer box.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1398 – a reliquary.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1645 – a reminder; a show of piety.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1693 – an amulet.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Either of two small leather boxes containing strips of parchment with passages from the Hebrew Scriptures, worn on the forehead and left arm by observant Jewish men during weekday morning prayers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[amulet]] or charm.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A reminder.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A container for a holy relic; a [[reliquary]].^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[phylacteried]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amulet]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Wiktionary notes that some Jewish people object to the popular use of ''phylactery'' for a necromancer's soul-holding object in fantasy fiction.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}