phylactery

[ fi-lak-tuh-ree ]

noun

, plural phy·lac·ter·ies.

1. Judaism. either of two small, black, leather cubes containing a piece of parchment inscribed with verses 4–9 of Deuteronomy 6, 13–21 of Deuteronomy 11, and 1–16 of Exodus 13: one is attached with straps to the left arm and the other to the forehead during weekday morning prayers by Orthodox and Conservative Jewish men.
2. (in the early Christian church) a receptacle containing a holy relic.
3. an amulet, charm, or safeguard against harm or danger.

phylactery

/ fɪˈlæktərɪ /

noun

1. Also calledTefillah Judaism usually plural either of the pair of blackened square cases containing parchments inscribed with biblical passages, bound by leather thongs to the head and left arm, and worn by Jewish men during weekday morning prayers
2. a reminder or aid to remembering
3. archaic.
   an amulet or charm

Other Words From

• phyl·ac·ter·ic [fil-ak-, ter, -ik], phylac·teri·cal adjective
• phy·lacter·ied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phylactery¹

First recorded 1350–1400; from Late Latin phylactērium, from Greek phylaktḗrion “outpost, safeguard, amulet,” equivalent to phylak-, stem of phylássein “to protect, guard” + -tērion noun suffix denoting place; replacing Middle English philaterie, from Medieval Latin philatērium, for Late Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of phylactery¹

C14: from Late Latin phylactērium, from Greek phulaktērion outpost, from phulax a guard

Example Sentences

But they did not don prayer shawls or phylacteries — small cases holding slips inscribed with passages of Scripture bound to the head and arm— that are customarily worn during morning prayers.

From Seattle Times

“The Women of the Wall will continue to worship at the women’s section of the Western Wall with the Torah scroll, prayer shawls and phylacteries until equality for women arrives at the wall as well.”

From The Guardian

“The Women of the Wall will continue to worship at the women’s section of the Western Wall with the Torah scroll, prayer shawls and phylacteries until equality for women arrives at the Wall as well.”

From Los Angeles Times

Beit El’s other concerns are small-scale by comparison: a factory for tefillin, or phylacteries; a bakeshop called Herby’s; and some workshops for aluminum and carpentry.

From New York Times

Yishai Babad was in the ninth family to arrive, and he set up a factory that makes tefillin — small leather phylacteries containing verses from the Torah.

From Washington Post