Es·sene 
(ĕsēn′, ĭ-sēn)
(ĕsēn′, ĭ-sēn)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.