Obs. Also 4 Essey, 7 Hessee, 4–6 pl. Esseis. [ad. L. Essæ-i pl., Gr. Ἐσσαῖ-οι. (The pl. Esseis is app. formed on L. pl. Essæi taken as a sing.; Wyclif’s Essey is prob. the L. plural misspelt. Cf. EPICUREE.] = ESSENE.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 2. Pharisees, Saduces, and Esseis. Ibid., Sel. Wks., II. 36. Essey, Saducey, and Pharisey.
a. 1570. Becon, Christ’s Chron. (1844), 546. The Essees … not altogether unlike to monks in life.
1607. T. Rogers, 39 Art. (1854), 353. Of another mind were the Esseis.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr. (1617), 147. Essees, Essens, or Hessees.
