Kids Definition phylactery noun phy·lac·tery fə-ˈlak-t(ə-)rē plural phylacteries 1 : either of two small square leather boxes containing scripture passages on slips of paper that are traditionally worn on the left arm and the head by Jewish men during morning prayers...
Define phylacteries. phylacteries synonyms, phylacteries pronunciation, phylacteries translation, English dictionary definition of phylacteries. n. pl. phy·lac·ter·ies Judaism Either of two small leather boxes, each containing strips of parchment insc
First, Dzelzainis's definition semantically fixes a word whose meaning for Christians was changing in the seventeenth century, its reference narrowing from an ill-defined and general category of amulets to a specific Jewish ritual object. Closing off that history, I claim, obscures the reasons ...