phylactery
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phylactery
- /fɪˈlæktəɹi/ UK
- /fɪˈlæktɹi/ UK
- /fəˈlæktəɹi/ US
- /fəˈlæktɹi/ US
Rhymes with -æktəɹi
Where it comes from
From Late Middle English philacterie, philaterie, filaterie (“amulet; tefilla; balderdash, idle words”), from Late Latin phylacterium (“amulet; reliquary; tefilla”), from Koine Greek φῠλᾰκτήρῐον (phŭlăktḗrĭon, “amulet; tefilla”) (used in the New Testament to translate Hebrew תפילין (“tefillin”)), from Ancient Greek φῠλᾰκτήρῐον (phŭlăktḗrĭon, “fortified outpost, watchman’s post; protection, safeguard”), from φυλακτήρ (phulaktḗr, “guard, watcher”) + -ῐον (-ĭon, suffix forming nouns). Φυλακτήρ (Phulaktḗr) is derived from φυλακ- (phulak-) (the stem of φῠλᾰ́σσω (phŭlắssō, “to guard, watch; to defend, protect”)) + -τήρ (-tḗr, suffix forming masculine agent nouns); and φῠλᾰ́σσω (phŭlắssō) from φῠ́λᾰξ (phŭ́lăx, “guard, sentry”), probably Pre-Greek. The spelling of the Middle English word was probably influenced by Middle French filatiere, philaterie, philatiere, and Old French filatiere, philatiere (“amulet; reliquary; tefilla”) (modern French phylactère), also from phylacterium.
Noun sense 1.2 (“fringe which an Israelite was required to wear”) was based on the mistaken assumption that the phylacteries (noun sense 1.1) referred to in Matthew 23:5 of the Bible were the same as the fringes mentioned in Numbers 15:37–39.
The modern use of "phylactery" as a term for a lich's artifact originates from Dungeons and Dragons.
noun phylacteries · philactery · philactory
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Either of two small leather cases containing scrolls with passages from the Torah, traditionally worn by a Jewish man (one on the arm (usually the left) and one on the forehead) and now sometimes by a woman at certain morning prayers as a reminder to obey the law as set out in the Bible; a tefilla.
All there [the scribes and Pharisees'] workꝭ [workis] they do⸝ for to be ſene of men. They ſett abroade there philateris⸝ and make large borders on there garmenttꝭ [garmenttis]⸝ […]
Similar: phylacter
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A profession of faith, or religious or traditional observance; also, a reminder.
[…] I ſend him back again for a phylactery to ſtitch upon his arrogance, that cenſures not onely before conviction ſo bitterly vvithout ſo much as one reaſon giv'n, but cenſures the Congregation of his Governors to their faces, for not being ſo haſty as himſelf to cenſure.
Similar: phylacter
- A fringe which an Israelite was required to wear as a reminder to obey the law as set out in the Bible; (by extension) any fringe or border. This Fabrick vvas ſo ſtupendous, as that vvhen King Cambyſes [II] had ſack'd and raz'd Syene, and the Flames had rambled to the Borders and the Phylacteries (as it vvere) of this Obelisk, he commanded the Fire to be extinguiſh'd, being ſtruck vvith Admiration of ſo venerable a Pile.
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Synonym of amulet (“a protective charm or ornament”).
In John Metham's Romance of Amoryus and Cleopes, dating from the mid-fifteenth century, a Medea-like figure named Cleopes equips her beloved knight Amoryus of Thessaly with various forms of magic in order to battle against the dragon. […] Amoryus's magic aids include a "Phylactery" (stanza 206, line
Similar: amulet, charm, craft, fetish, juju, lucky charm, madstone, mascot, mojo, periapt, phylactery, protection
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An enchanted object used (for example, by a lich) to contain and protect the owner's soul.
"Heh. No. You're right about that. Often an object that was important to a lich in life serves as the phylactery, but it could be anything," Diran said. "Something as simple as a locked chest or as ornate as a piece of sculpture. We won't know for certain until we find it, but whatever object is use
Similar: amulet, charm, craft, fetish, juju, lucky charm, madstone, mascot, mojo, periapt, phylactery, protection
- A scroll with words on it depicted as emerging from a person's mouth or held in their hands, indicating what they are singing or speaking; a banderole, a speech scroll. [T]o bear on their faces, as plainly as on a phylactery, the inscription, "Do, pray, look at the coronet on my panels;" […]
- A list or record. Here is the phylactery of his [John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford's] vices—wily, wary, cold, calculating, indirect, faithless. In act, treacherous and cruel.
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Synonym of reliquary (“a container to display or hold religious relics”).
Reliquary phylacteries could serve as suspension capsules or containers for holy relics.
Similar: reliquary
Translations
Every language
noun either of two small leather cases containing scrolls with passages from the Torah
| Español | filacteria |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 經文護符匣 /经文护符匣 jīngwénhùfúxiá, 經匣 /经匣 jīngxiá |
| हिन्दी | तावीज़ tāvīz |
| Português | filactério, tefilin |
| Français | phylactère, tephillin, fronteau |
| Deutsch | Phylakterion, Denkzettel, Gebetsriemen, Tefillin |
| Italiano | filatterio |
| Ελληνικά | τεφιλίν tefilín |
| Română | filacteră |
| Русский | филакте́рия filaktérija, тфили́н tfilín |
| עברית | תפילין tfilín, טוטפת totefet |
noun synonym of amulet (cognates) — see also amulet
| Français | phylactère |
|---|---|
| Italiano | filatterio |
| Русский | филакте́рия filaktérija |
noun scroll with words on it depicted as emerging from a person’s mouth or held in their hands — see also banderole, speech scroll
| 中文 | 話語卷軸 /话语卷轴 huàyǔjuànzhóu |
|---|---|
| Português | filactera, filactério, bandeirola, pergaminho de fala, voluta de fala |
| Français | phylactère |
| Deutsch | Spruchband |
noun enchanted object used to contain and protect the owner’s soul
| 中文 | 命匣 mìngxiá |
|---|---|
| Русский | филакте́рия filaktérija |
noun synonym of reliquary (cognates) — see also reliquary
| Русский | филакте́рия filaktérija |
|---|
Talk about this word "phylactery." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/phylactery. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. phylactery. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/phylactery "phylactery." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/phylactery.Cite this
@misc{phylactery_2026,
title = {phylactery},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/phylactery},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
