Pharisee

Pronunciation: /ˈfɛrəˌsi/

Definitions of pharisee

noun a member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law, and commonly held to have pretensions to superior sanctity

Example Sentences

A1 The pharisee was known for strictly following religious laws.

A2 In the Bible, Jesus often criticized the pharisees for their hypocrisy.

B1 The pharisee was seen as a religious leader in the community.

B2 The pharisee's rigid adherence to religious rules sometimes alienated others.

C1 The pharisee's teachings were highly respected among his followers.

C2 The pharisee's actions were often scrutinized by those around him.

Examples of pharisee in a Sentence

formal The Pharisee was known for strictly adhering to religious laws and traditions.

informal The Pharisee always made sure to follow every rule in the book.

slang That Pharisee is such a stickler for the rules.

figurative She was a Pharisee when it came to cleanliness, everything had to be spotless.

Grammatical Forms of pharisee

• plural: pharisees
• comparative: more pharisaic
• superlative: most pharisaic
• present tense: pharisee
• future tense: will pharisee
• perfect tense: have phariseed
• continuous tense: is phariseeing
• singular: pharisee
• positive degree: pharisee
• infinitive: to pharisee
• gerund: phariseeing
• participle: phariseed

Origin and Evolution of pharisee

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Hebrew

Story behind the word: The word 'Pharisee' originated from the Hebrew word 'parush' meaning 'separated ones'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'Pharisee' evolved from referring to a specific religious sect in ancient Judaism to being used more broadly to describe someone who is hypocritical or self-righteous.