noun

phylactery

fih-LAK-tuh-ree

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Phylactery (noun) means In Judaism, either of two small leather boxes containing scrolls of Torah passages, traditionally strapped to the arm and forehead during morning prayers. Example: “He wound the leather strap of the phylactery around his arm before morning prayers.”

noun

Judaism In Judaism, either of two small leather boxes containing scrolls of Torah passages, traditionally strapped to the arm and forehead during morning prayers.

"He wound the leather strap of the phylactery around his arm before morning prayers."

"Observant Jewish men traditionally wear a phylactery on the arm and one on the forehead for weekday prayers."

"Each phylactery holds small scrolls inscribed with passages from the Torah."

fantasy, roleplaying games In fantasy fiction and role-playing games, an enchanted object used to contain and protect a being's soul, most often a lich's.

"The adventurers knew the lich could not be killed for good until its phylactery was destroyed."

"The necromancer hid his phylactery deep beneath the tower."

"Players spent the whole session hunting for the villain's phylactery."

How to use phylactery

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA phylactery is either of the small prayer boxes worn in Jewish tradition, or, in fantasy stories, an object that holds a magical being's soul.

When to use it

Phylactery is a fairly formal, specialist word, met mostly in religious writing or fantasy fiction rather than everyday speech.

Memory tip

Check the context before assuming the meaning: in a religious text it means a prayer box, but in a fantasy story it usually means a soul container.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

wear a phylactery strap on a phylactery destroy the phylactery the lich's phylactery

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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He wound the leather strap of the _____ around his arm before morning prayers.

Etymology

Phylactery reached English through Late Middle English forms such as philacterie, from Late Latin phylacterium, itself from Koine Greek phŭlăktḗrĭon, meaning amulet or tefilla. That Greek word was used in the New Testament to translate the Hebrew word for tefillin, and traces back further to an Ancient Greek word for a guarded post or safeguard, related to a verb meaning to guard or protect.

Origin: Greek, via Latin

Synonyms

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tefilla horcrux tefillin

Rhymes for phylactery

very every fiery query leery artery celery bakery finery ornery misery watery

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Frequently asked questions

What is a phylactery in Judaism?

It is one of two small leather boxes holding Torah scroll passages, worn on the arm and forehead during prayer; the pair is also known as tefillin.

Why do fantasy games use the word phylactery for a soul container?

That use began with Dungeons and Dragons, where a phylactery is the enchanted object a lich stores its soul in so it cannot be permanently killed.

Is a phylactery the same thing as a horcrux?

They serve the same role as soul-storing objects in fiction, phylactery being the term used in Dungeons and Dragons-style settings and horcrux the term from Harry Potter.

What is the meaning of phylactery?

"phylactery" (noun) means in Judaism, either of two small leather boxes containing scrolls of Torah passages, traditionally strapped to the arm and forehead during morning prayers.