phylactery

Noun

phylactery (plural phylacteries)

1. (Judaism) 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]⸝ […]1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew xxiij:[5], folio xxxij, verso
   • They [the scribes and Pharisees] walke vp and doune bearyng about brode Philacteries, they go with broad ⁊ gorgiouſe imbroderinges, and ſhewe furth the commaundementes of the lawe written in them, where as in their lyfe they neuer appeare.1549 February 10 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1548), Erasmus, “The Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Gospell of Saincte Matthew. The .xxiii. Chapter.”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall]...

   Synonyms:

   phylacter

   1. (Judaism, derogatory, figuratively) 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.1645 March 14 (Gregorian calendar), John Milton, “To the Parlament”, in Tetrachordon: Expositions upon the Foure Chief Places in Scripture, which Treat of Mariage, or Nullities in Mariage. […]...
      • To thoughtful Obſervators the vvhole VVorld is a Phylactery, and every thing vve ſee an Item of the VViſdom, Povver, or Goodneſs of God.c. 1670s (date written), Thomas Brown [i.e., Thomas Browne], “Sect[ion] X”, in John Jeffery, editor, Christian Morals, […], Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] [A]t the University-Press, for Cornelius...
2. (Judaism, archaic) 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.1715, Guido Pancirollus [i.e., Guido Panciroli], “Of Obelisks”, in The History of Many Memorable Things Lost, which were in Use among the Ancients: And an Account of Many Excellent Things Found, Now...
   • [S]uddenly now, / Full-statured, with uplifted head she walks, / And drops her loosed phylacteries in the dust.1878, Bayard Taylor, Prince Deukalion, Boston, Mass.: Houghton, Osgood and Company; Cambridge, Mass.: The Riverside Press, →OCLC, Act III (A.D. 18——), scene iii, page 112
3. (archaic) 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...2006, Don C. Skemer, “Textual Amulets for Women”, in Binding Words: Textual Amulets in the Middle Ages (Magic in History), University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania State University Press, →ISBN, footnote...

   Synonyms:

   amulet, charm, craft, fetish, juju, lucky charm, madstone, mascot, mojo, periapt

   1. (archaic, broadly, roleplaying games) 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...2007 March, Tim Waggoner, chapter 2, in Forge of the Mind Slayers (Blade of the Flame; 2), Renton, Wash.: Wizards of the Coast, →ISBN, page 21
      • 'So,' says Calli impatiently, holding her head proudly, 'let's destroy the phylactery and let the lich rot in peace and then take the artefacts.' / 'It's not as simple as that,' says Joachim. 'The phylactery is the mask.' / An unnerving silence fills the room. The only way to destroy a lich...2011, J. L. Connew, “Phase 5: The System Force”, in Origins of the Geomancer (A System Force Novel), [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 112
4. (historical) 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;" […]1872 September – 1873 July, Thomas Hardy, “‘We Frolic while ’tis May’”, in A Pair of Blue Eyes. […], volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], published 1873, →OCLC, pages 7–8
   • The sun coming in through the rose window in the south transept made the phylactery which the angel bore glow like a topaz, and gilded the hermit's bald head, while it turned the ciborium below into shining gold.1931 July, John Buchan, “In which Peter is Introduced to Fortune”, in The Blanket of the Dark, London; Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons, published September 1933, →OCLC, page 38
   1. (figuratively, historical) 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.1863, Charles Cowden Clarke, “Henry IV”, in Shakespeare-characters; Chiefly those Subordinate, London: Smith, Elder, & Co.; Edinburgh: James Nichol, →OCLC, page 423
5. (historical, obsolete) Synonym of reliquary (“a container to display or hold religious relics”).
   • Reliquary phylacteries could serve as suspension capsules or containers for holy relics.2006, Don C. Skemer, “Introduction”, in Binding Words: Textual Amulets in the Middle Ages (Magic in History), University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania State University Press, →ISBN, footnote 19, page 12
   • After Marie [of Oignies] was exhumed around 1226, another of her fingers was placed in a phylactery that was created by Hugh of Oignies and remained at Oignies until 1817[…].2007, Sharon Farmer, “Low Country Ascetics and Oriental Luxury: Jacques de Vitry, Marie of Oignies, and the Treasures of Oignies”, in Rachel Fulton, Bruce W. Holsinger, editors, History in the Comic...

   Synonyms:

   reliquary