essenes

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Essene \Es*sene"\, n.; pl. {Essenes}. [Gr. ?, lit., physicians,
   because they practiced medicine, fr. Chald [=a]say[=a] to
   heal, cf. Heb. as[=a].]
   One of a sect among the Jews in the time of our Savior,
   remarkable for their strictness and abstinence.
   [1913 Webster]

from Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Essenes
a Jewish mystical sect somewhat resembling the Pharisees. They
affected great purity. They originated about B.C. 100, and
disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem.
They are not directly mentioned in Scripture, although they may
be referred to in Matt. 19:11, 12, Col. 2:8, 18, 23.

[email protected]