a member of an ascetic sect that flourished in Palestine from the second century bc to the second century ad, living in strictly organized communities
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
Es•sene
(es′ēn, e sēn′),USA pronunciation n. [Judaism.] Es•se•ni•an
(e sē′nē ən),USA pronunciation Es•sen•ic
(e sen′ik),USA pronunciation adj.
- Judaisma member of a Palestinian sect, characterized by asceticism, celibacy, and joint holding of property, that flourished from the 2nd century b.c. to the 2nd century a.d.
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