pharisaism
/ˈfaɹ.ɪˌseɪ.ɪz.(ə)m/
pharisaism · noun — the doctrines and practices, or the character and spirit, of the Pharisees. It carries an Arena rating of 1519, earned across 90 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, pharisaism ranks #196 of 17,176 for Most Incisive Words, #2,012 of 17,171 for Scariest Words, #2,043 of 17,146 for Most Storied Words, #3,740 of 17,131 for Most Ponderous Words.
pharisaism is pronounced /ˈfaɹ.ɪˌseɪ.ɪz.(ə)m/.
Why “pharisaism” is a great word
PHARISAISM — [Noun] Rigid observance of external religious forms without genuine piety, characterized by hypocrisy and self-righteousness. From Late Latin Pharisaismus, from Pharĭsaeus ("Pharisee, a member of an ancient Jewish sect") + -ismus ("-ism, denoting a practice or doctrine"). Unlike piety, which denotes sincere devotion, or legalism, which can be a stern but genuine adherence to code, pharisaism is virtue performed for an audience. It is the meticulously tithed mint from a garden of neglected justice, the public prayer calibrated for eavesdroppers, the whitewashed tomb splendidly clean on the outside—a profound human talent for substituting ritual for righteousness, which renders one a stranger to one’s own soul.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From Late Latin Pharisaismus, from Pharĭsaeus (“Pharisee”) + -ismus (“-ism”); compare French Pharisaïsme, Italian Fariseismo (archaic), farisaismo.
noun
- The doctrines and practices, or the character and spirit, of the Pharisees.
- Rigid observance of external forms of religion without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion; a censorious, self-righteous spirit in matters of morals or manners.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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