to cut off all or part of the foreskin of (a male)
to cut off the labia minora or clitoris of (a female)
Archaic to cleanse from sin; purify
Origin:
ME circumcisen < OFr circonciser < L circumcisus, pp. of circumcidere, to cut around, in LL(Ec), to circumcise < circum, around + caedere, to cut: see -cide