circumcision

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun (Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church) feast day celebrating the circumcision of Jesus; celebrated on January 1st
  2. noun the act of circumcising performed on males eight days after birth as a Jewish and Muslim religious rite
  3. noun the act of circumcising; surgical removal of the foreskin of males

Etymology

From Middle English circumcisioun, from Old French circumcisiun (modern French circoncision) and its etymon Latin circumcīsiōn-, from circumcīdō (“cut around”), from circum (“about, around; through”) + caedō (“cut, hew”). By surface analysis, circumcis(e) + -ion.

In classic literature

Synonyms

Feast of the Circumcision, January 1

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