tonsure

[ ton-sher ]

noun

1. the act of cutting the hair or shaving the head.
2. the shaving of the head or of some part of it as a religious practice or rite, especially in preparation for entering the priesthood or a monastic order.
3. the part of a cleric's head, usually the crown, left bare by shaving the hair.
4. the state of being shorn.

verb (used with object)

, ton·sured, ton·sur·ing.

1. to confer the ecclesiastical tonsure upon.
2. to subject to tonsure.

tonsure

/ ˈtɒnʃə /

noun

1. in certain religions and monastic orders
   1. the shaving of the head or the crown of the head only
   2. the part of the head left bare by shaving
   3. the state of being shaven thus

verb

1. tr to shave the head of

Derived Forms

• ˈtonsured, adjective

Other Words From

• un·tonsured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonsure¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin tōnsūra a shearing, equivalent to tōns ( us ) (past participle of tondēre to shear, clip, shave) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonsure¹

C14: from Latin tōnsūra a clipping, from tondēre to shave

Example Sentences

But he never took orders, the clerical tonsure being a sufficient qualification for holding canonries.

From Project Gutenberg

The student was exempted by his tonsure from lay jurisdiction.

From Project Gutenberg

Assured, however, that he was in Dublin, he scratched his tonsure once more.

From Project Gutenberg

Pretty children, with their hair clipped around their heads like a priest's tonsure, sport around us, but are not intrusive.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a fifth, a baker who wore the tonsure and was delivered to the episcopal court, which sentenced him to vergenza.

From Project Gutenberg