דַּתְּ, דָּת f. (b. h.; = דנת, , Arab, dîn corresp. to our w.) 1) custom, law; judgment, punishment. Esth. R. to I, 8 כדַת כל מקום וכ׳ in accordance with the usages of &c.—Keth. VII, 6 דַּת משה Mosaic (ritual) law, ד׳ יהודית Jewish custom (chastity, decency); Tosef. ib. VII, 6 ד׳ משה וישראל. Ib. 7 שעברו על הדת who disregard the Jewish custom. Esth. R. to I, 15 כדת just dealing, v. אַכְזְרִיּוּת. Meg. 12ᵃ ד׳ של תורה the Biblical dues (sacrifices); a. fr. —2) religion. Succ. 56ᵇ המירה דָתָהּ (Tosef. ib. IV, 28 נשתמדה) she changed her faith, became an apostate. Yeb. 70ᵇ; Pes. 96ᵃ (ref. to Ex. XII, 43, v. דְּרָשָׁא) בו המרת דת וכ׳ to eat of it (the passover lamb) apostasy does unfit, but &c.—Pl. דָּתִין. Koh. R. to VII, 19 (play on ידותון, I Chr. XXV, 3) הנבא על הד׳ ועל הדינין וכ׳ (Asaph) who prophesied over the judgments and dispensations that passed over him; Cant. R. to IV, 4 (corr. acc.). [As to derivation of our w. from the Persian, v. Ges. H. Dict.¹⁰ s. v.]