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Glite Dictionary
🗡️ Jewish zealots 🗡️ Secret killers
Sicarii

Sicarii

1 9.9
People who secretly killed political enemies with small knives, often targeting those who helped the Romans
  • noun
  • /sɪˈkɑːraɪ/
  • NSFW
: sicarios
  • Historians debate the influence of the Sicarii on later revolutionary groups.

Examples

  • The term Sicarii is sometimes used today to describe secretive political assassins.

  • The Sicarii were known for their ruthless tactics against traitors.

  • The Sicarii were feared for their surprise attacks in crowded places during Roman times.

  • Many historians study the actions of the Sicarii to understand ancient resistance.

  • The Sicarii were notorious for their daring assassinations of Roman collaborators.

  • During the first century, the Sicarii targeted those who cooperated with the Romans in Judea.

  • The actions of the Sicarii instilled fear among those who betrayed their fellow Jews.

Surface Forms

Sicarii singular
Sicarii plural

Etymology

Sicarii comes from the Latin sica meaning 'small dagger'. It named people who hid knives and used surprise attacks, so the word literally means 'dagger men' and helps explain why they are remembered as secret political killers.