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celibacy

[ sel-uh-buh-see ]
/ ˈsɛl ə bə si /
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noun
abstention from sexual relations.
abstention by vow from marriage: the celibacy of priests.
the state of being unmarried.
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Origin of celibacy

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin caelibā(tus) “celibacy” (caelib-, stem of caelebs “single” + -ātus -ate3) + -cy

OTHER WORDS FROM celibacy

cel·i·bat·ic [sel-uh-bat-ik], /ˌsɛl əˈbæt ɪk/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use celibacy in a sentence

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