celibate
pronunciation
How to pronounce celibate in British English:
UK [ˈselɪbət]
How to pronounce celibate in American English:
US [ˈsɛləbɪt]
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- Noun:
- an unmarried person who has taken a religious vow of chastity
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- Adjective:
- abstaining from sexual intercourse
Word Origin
- celibate (n.)
- 1610s, "state of celibacy" (especially as mandated to clergy in the Catholic church) from French célibat (16c.), from Latin caelibatus (see celibacy). This was the only sense until early 19c. The adjective meaning "unmarried, sworn to remain single" is recorded from 1825. As a noun, one who is sworn to such a condition, from 1838.
Example
- 1. If you want to follow god be a celibate .
- 2. I will become a celibate , and join a monastery .
- 3. Churches that believe their priests must be celibate in order to be like jesus are not about to change their rules , though .
- 4. The catholic church is perpetually short of priests , not least because it limits its recruitment to well-educated celibate males .
- 5. The ban still applies to men who are sexually active with other men , but celibate homosexuals are permitted to give blood , according to the ministry of health 's website .