celibate

alternative archaic cælibate · alternative archaic cœlibate

1. not comparablechiefly religiousNot married.First known use 1827

   Synonyms: unmarried, single

2. broadlynot comparableAbstaining from sexual relations and pleasures.

   Members of religious communities sometimes take vows to remain celibate.

   1 more example

   Juanita went celibate for a while and then started going out with Da5id and eventually got married to him.

   1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 57

   Synonyms: abstinent, chaste, pure

alternative archaic cælibate · alternative archaic cœlibate

1. uncountableOne 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.First known use 1869

   Even during the ages that priestly marriage was permitted, celibates obtained a higher reputation for sanctity and virtue than married priests, who infinitely more than celibates were believed subject to infestation by demons.

   1893, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Woman, Church and State: A Historical Account of the Status of Woman Through the Christian Ages: with Reminiscences of the Matriarchate

   Synonyms: volcel, cel

present singular third person celibates · participle present celibating · participle past celibated · past celibated · alternative archaic cælibate · alternative archaic cœlibate

1. intransitiverareTo practice celibacy.

   However, be that as it may, Stason celebrated with the boys while Hessel celibated alone.

   1941, Michigan Raw Review, page 34

   4 more examples

   These kids were winding up 45 years and 4 days of celebrating. Me? I'm winding up seven years of celibating looking for a patient virgin.

   1973, Stevens Indicator - Volumes 90-91, page 55

   RICHARD: The Franciscans have turned me down, Angelina. They have asked me to travel another road to sainthood. TOM: Richard is done with celibating!

   1983, Jerry Bamman, Ecco!, page 1-36

   But if she must break off her celibating, it's a shame and a pity she had to choose him to do it with.

   2010, Joan Smith, Aurora

   But also with labels like “whore” and “slut”, as a male, it's annoying, because, women don't need to be chastised and made colder in this ice age we live in— they need to be warmed up, turned on, complimented, celebrated (not celibated), encouraged to enjoy their bodies, and pursue pleasure soberly and intelligently.

   2012, Ted Huntington, Big Science Secrets, Lies, and Mistakes, page 129

alternative archaic cælibate · alternative archaic cœlibate

1. obsoleteuncountableA celibate state; celibacy.First known use 1614

   He […] preferreth holy Cœlibate before the eſtate of Marriage, […]

   1678, Jeremy Taylor, “The History of the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus: […]. The Third Part.”, in Antiquitates Christianæ: Or, the History of the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus: […], London: […] E. Flesher, and R. Norton, for R[ichard] Royston, […], →OCLC, section XIV (Of the Third Year of the Preaching of Jesus), page 327

   1 more example

   And Mrs Gorman had had several admirers, both before and after Mr Gorman, and even during Mr Gorman, and Watt at least two well defined romances, in the course of his celibate.

   1953, Samuel Beckett, chapter II, in Watt, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, published 1959, →OCLC, page 139

   Synonyms: cel