celibate

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an unmarried person who has taken a religious vow of chastity
  2. adjective abstaining from sexual intercourse

Etymology

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

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