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circumcise definition

cir·cum·cise (sʉr′kəm sīz′)

transitive verb circumcised -·cised′, circumcising -·cis′·ing

    1. to cut off all or part of the foreskin of (a male)
    2. to cut off the labia minora or clitoris of (a female)
  2. Archaic to cleanse from sin; purify

Etymology: ME circumcisen < OFr circonciser < L circumcisus, pp. of circumcidere, to cut around, in LL(Ec), to circumcise < circum, around + caedere, to cut: see -cide

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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