Seph. /mahf teerdd"/ ; Ashk. /mahf"teerdd/ , n. Hebrew.
1. the concluding section of the portion of the Torah chanted or read in a Jewish service on the Sabbath and festivals.
2. the person who recites the blessings before and after the chanting or reading of this section and who often also chants or reads the Haftarah.
[ maphtir lit., dismisser ]