Celibacy — refers to the lack of participation in sexual intercourse. A vow of celibacy is a promise not to have sex and not to enter into marriage. The term involuntary celibacy has recently appeared to describe a chronic, unwilling state of celibacy.… … Wikipedia
Celibacy — Ce*lib a*cy, n. [See {Celibate}, n.] The state of being unmarried; single life, esp. that of a bachelor, or of one bound by vows not to marry. The celibacy of the clergy. Hallom. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
celibacy — 1660s, formed in English from L. caelibatus state of being unmarried, from cælebs unmarried, probably from PIE root *kaiwelo alone + lib(h)s living … Etymology dictionary
celibacy — [n] abstinence from sexual activity abstention, chastity, continence, frigidity, impotence, maidenhood, purity, singleness, virginity, virtue; concept 388 Ant. promiscuousness … New thesaurus
celibacy — [sel′ə bə sē] n. [< CELIBA(TE) + CY] 1. the state of being unmarried, esp. that of a person under a vow not to marry 2. complete sexual abstinence … English World dictionary
celibacy — celibatic /sel euh bat ik/, adj. /sel euh beuh see/, n. 1. abstention from sexual relations. 2. abstention by vow from marriage: the celibacy of priests. 3. the state of being unmarried. [1655 65; < L caeliba(tus) celibacy (caelib , s. of caelebs … Universalium
CELIBACY — The deliberate renunciation of marriage is all but completely alien to Judaism. Scarcely any references to celibates are to be found in the Bible or in the Talmud, and no medieval rabbi is known to have lived as a celibate (see L. Loew ,… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Celibacy — The compulsory celibacy of the *clergy was abolished in Protestant England in 1549. However, the Church of Rome had been trying for several centuries to impose it and was close to success when England defaulted. A *decretal issued by Pope… … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
celibacy — n. to practice celibacy * * * [ selɪbəsɪ] to practice celibacy … Combinatory dictionary
celibacy — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Unmarried state Nouns 1. celibacy, singleness, single blessedness; bachelorhood, bachelorship, spinsterhood; misogamy, misogyny; virginity, pucelage, maidenhood; chastity, continence, sexual abstinence.… … English dictionary for students
