Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • A community of Jews in Palestine formed in the second century b. c., originally representing a tendency rather than constituting an organized sect, and aiming at a higher degree of holiness than that attained by other Jews.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • I’m not sure if he was gay per se, but he kind of imitated the lifestyles of a religious goup known as the essenes who believed that sex distracted people from their faith and he lived in a “community” with his disciples.

    Think Progress » Family at the center of Florida’s battle over gay adoption attends the White House Easter Egg Roll. 2010

  • Historical abridgment of essenes and antiquity of free masonry;: Its decadence and revival, introduction in America, its establishment in Indiana, and ... by Joseph E Crain

    Strange Days Indeed 2010

  • She has not only her priestesses, but her temple-curators, her essenes, her divines ([Greek: theologoi]), her choristers ([Greek: humnôdoi]), her vergers ([Greek: skêptouchoi]), her tire-women or dressers ([Greek: kosmêteirai]), and even her 'acrobats,' whatever may be meant by some of these terms.

    Essays on the work entitled "Supernatural Religion" Joseph Barber Lightfoot 1858

  • Jesus shared a lot in common with the essenes, i.e., apocalyptic endtimes view, his stance on marriage, diet, the language used is also found in the essenes writings and yes, he may have thought himself as the essene's 'teacher of righteousness'.

    Yahoo! Answers: Latest Questions 2010

  • we are currently doing a series of posts on essenes and their culture and i'll like to hear your take on the subject via comments.

    Ministry Owns A Piece of the Dead Sea Scrolls Christopher O'Brien 2007

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