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n. A member of an ascetic Jewish sect that existed in ancient Palestine from the second century BC to the second century AD. [Latin Essēnī, the Essenes, from Greek Essēnoi, from Aramaic ḥasên, pl. of ḥasē, righteous, holy; see ḫśy in the Appendix of Semitic roots.] Es·seni·an (ĕ-sēnē-ən), Es·senic (ĕ-sĕnĭk) adj. Es·senism n. |
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