Hasid

Alternative Spellings

Hassid, Chossid, Chosid, Chasid, Chassid, Khosid, Khosed

Definitions

• A disciple of a rabbi, not only a member of a Hasidic group.
• A follower in a non-religious sense (ironic).
• Pious person
• Adherent of a Hasidic Jewish group ("A mystical religious movement founded in Poland" (JPS)

Example Sentences

• "a Gerrer Hasid, fainted during his pre-wedding counseling session" (http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2012/02/for-gerrer-hasidim-sex-is-a-sin-789.html)
• "one was a chosid by the name of R’ Meir Markowitz who was a chosid of the Tzemach Tzedek and was at that time over 1oo years old, and the other, a chosid from the times of the Rebbe Maharash, was in his 80’s – but R’ Itche der masmid was held in the highest esteem by all" (http://machonchana.org/tag/weekly-farbrengen-2/)
• "He's wonderful, deep Hasid of a priest!" (A rabbi in speaking about a Catholic colleague)

Languages of Origin

Textual Hebrew, Yiddish

Etymology

Heb חסיד khasíd, Yiddish חסיד khósed

Who Uses This

Jews: Jews of diverse religious backgrounds and organizational involvements
Non-Jews: (words that have spread outside of Jewish networks)

Regions

North America

Dictionaries

The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).
The Joys of Hebrew, by Lewis Glinert (New York, 1992).
Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).

Notes

Plural Hasidim / Chasidim / Chassidim. Adjective Hasidic / Chasidic / Chassidic / Chasidish / Chassidish / Chassidishe