celibate

celibate · adjective¹

Probably from the noun (“celibacy”) or from celibacy on the model of privacy/private, etc. Alternatively, from Latin caelebs (“single”) + -ate.

celibate · noun²

1. Latin · learned borrowing fromcaelebs
2. Latin · learned borrowing fromcaelebs
3. English todaycelibate

From Latin caelebs + -ate (noun-forming suffix)

celibate · verb³

From Latin caelebs + -ate (verb-forming suffix)

celibate · noun⁴

1. Latin · derived fromcaelibātus“celibacy”
2. French · borrowed fromcélibat“celibacy”
3. English todaycelibate

From French célibat (“celibacy”), from Latin caelibātus (“celibacy”), from caelebs (“unmarried”); compare German Zölibat (“celibacy”). Equivalent to Latin caelebs + -ate (forming nouns denoting a rank, a state)

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1827 Not married.
• from 1869 One who is not married, especially one who has taken a religious vow not to get married, usually because of being a member of a religious community.
• from 1614 A celibate state; celibacy.