• (n.) One of a body of devoted Jews who opposed the Hellenistic Jews, and supported the Asmoneans.
As`si·de'an noun [ Hebrew khāsad to be pious.] One of a body of devoted Jews who opposed the Hellenistic Jews, and supported the Asmoneans. 
a member of a sect, characterized by its religious zeal and piety, that flourished in the 2nd century b.c. during the time of the Maccabees and vigorously resisted the Hellenization of Jewish culture and religion.