celibate

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From French célibat, from Latin caelibatus, perfect passive participle of caelibare, from caelebs (“unmarried”), compare German Zölibat.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsɛləbət/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Adjective

celibate (not comparable)

  1. Not married.
  2. (by extension) Abstaining from sexual relations and pleasures.
    Members of religious communities sometimes take vows to remain celibate.

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Translations

Noun

celibate (plural celibates)

  1. One who is not married, especially one who has taken a religious vow not to get married, usually because of being a member of a religious community.
  2. (obsolete) A celibate state; celibacy.
    • Jeremy Taylor
      He […] preferreth holy celibate before the estate of marrige.

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Translations

Verb

celibate (third-person singular simple present celibates, present participle celibating, simple past and past participle celibated)

  1. (rare) To practice celibacy

See also

Anagrams

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