— phylacteric /fil'ak ter"ik/ , phylacterical , adj. — phylacteried , adj.
/fi lak"teuh ree/ , n. , pl. phylacteries .
1. Judaism. either of two small, black, leather cubes containing a piece of parchment inscribed with verses 4-9 of Deut. 6, 13-21 of Deut. 11, and 1-16 of Ex. 13: one is attached with straps to the left arm and the other to the forehead during weekday morning prayers by Orthodox and Conservative Jewish men.
2. (in the early Christian church) a receptacle containing a holy relic.
3. an amulet, charm, or safeguard against harm or danger.
[ 1350-1400; phylacterium phylaktérion outpost, safeguard, amulet, equiv. to phylak-, s. of phylássein to protect, guard + -terion n. suffix denoting place; r. ME philaterie philaterium, for LL, as above ]