Ossene
(ˈɒsiːn)
Also Ossæan, Ossen.
[ad. late L. Ossēnī, a. Gr. Ὀσσηνοί (Epiphanius): see quot. 1863.]
A member of an ancient heretical sect, living to the east of the Dead Sea, who adopted from the Essenes a debased form of Christianity.
| [1580 Fulke Dang. Rocke xviii. (Parker Soc.) 390 The old heresies, in which the Papists consent with ancient heretics..the Ossens and Marcosians in their Reliques, and strange tongue in prayers.] 1863 Westcott in Smith Dict. Bible s.v. Essene, The strange account which Epiphanius gives of the Osseni..appears to point to some combination of Essene and pseudo-Christian doctrines. 1880 G. Salmon in Smith Dict. Chr. Biog. s.v. Elkesai, His accounts of the Jewish Sect which he calls Ossenes (Haer. 19). |