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celibacy definition

celi·bacy (sel′ə bə sē)

noun

  1. the state of being unmarried, esp. that of a person under a vow not to marry
  2. complete sexual abstinence

Etymology: < celiba(te) + -cy

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

celibacy Synonyms

celibacy

n.

virginity, abstinence, continence; see chastity.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

celibacy Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • clergy: To complicate matters more, several of his Reformed friends had still one foot in Rome and believed in the celibacy of the clergy.

Converse of object

  • enforce: The Archbishop endeavors from time to time to enforce clerical celibacy, which is apparently not observed by some of his suffragan bishops.

Preposition: for

  • priest: Semiramis promoted baby sacrifices and celibacy for priests, foreshadowing Roman Catholicism.

Adjective modifier

  • priestly: But I can say what value priestly celibacy has for me and my family.
celibacy usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

celibacy quotes

Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures.

-Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

When the parish priest rebuked him for his celibacy, saying it would lead him into debaucheryand sin, hesaid that a man who had to be muzzled bya wife as a protection against debauchery was not worthy of the joy of innocence. After that people began to treat him with priestly respect.

-O'Flaherty, Liam

Marriage may often be a stormy lake, but celibacy is almost always a muddy horsepond.

-Peacock,Thomas Love

celibacy quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"celibacy." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/celibacy>

APA Style

celibacy. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/celibacy

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