pharisaical
/faɹɪˈseɪk(ə)l/ adjective
- adjective Of or pertaining to the Pharisees.
- adjective (chiefly Christianity) Emphasizing the observance of ritual or practice over the meaning; self-righteous, hypocritical.
Synonyms
pharisaic holier-than-thou pietistic pietistical sanctimonious self-righteous
Etymology
From Late Latin Pharisaicus + -al.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of or pertaining to the Pharisees; resembling the Pharisees. "The Pharisaic sect among the Jews." Cudworth.
- adjective Hence: Addicted to external forms and ceremonies; making a show of religion without the spirit of it; ceremonial; formal; hypocritical; self-righteous. "Excess of outward and pharisaical holiness. " Bacon.
Etymology [L. Pharisaicus, Gr. pharisaïque. See Pharisee.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “pharisaical”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details