[ 'farɪsi: ]
■ noun
1》 a member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law, and commonly held to have pretensions to superior sanctity.
2》 a self-righteous person.
Derivatives
Pharisaic ˌfarɪ'seɪɪk adjective
Pharisaical adjective
Pharisaism 'farɪseɪˌɪz(ə)m noun
Origin
OE fariseus , via eccles. L. from Gk Pharisaios , from Aramaic prīšayyā 'separated ones'.