Množina: pharisees

A pharisaical person

Množina: Pharisees

ETYM Latin Pharisaeus, Greek pharisaios, from Hebrew pârash to separate.
A self-righteous or sanctimonious person.
Jewish religious adherent to ritual formalities; person ostentatiously religious, or self-righteous; hypocrite.
Member of an ancient Hebrew political party and sect of Judaism that formed in Roman-occupied Palestine in the 2nd century BC in protest against all movements favoring Hellenization. The Pharisees were the party of the common man, standing for rabbi, prayer, and synagogue. They were opposed by the aristocratic Sadducees.
The Pharisees rejected political action, and in the 1st century AD one group of their followers, the Zealots, broke away to pursue a nationalist policy. After the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple AD 70, Pharisee ideas became the basis of orthodox Judaism as the people were dispersed throughout the W Roman empire.
A member of an ancient Jewish sect noted for strict obedience to Jewish traditions.