n.
Pronunciation: i- ' s ē n, ' e- ˌ s ē n
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek Ess ē nos
Date: 1553
: a member of a monastic brotherhood of Jews in Palestine from the second century B.C. to the second century A.D.
– Es · se · ni · an \ i- ' s ē -n ē - ə n, e- ' se- \ or Es · se · nic \ - ' se-nik, - ' s ē -nik \ adjective
– Es · se · nism \ - ' s ē - ˌ ni-z ə m \ noun