onanism

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun manual stimulation of the genital organs (of yourself or another) for sexual pleasure
  2. noun a method of birth control in which coitus is initiated but the penis is deliberately withdrawn before ejaculation

Etymology

From Onan + -ism. In the Book of Genesis, Onan, son of Judah, in fulfillment of the laws of levirate marriage was to impregnate his brother Er's widow, Tamar, in order to raise offspring from the union in his brother's name. In order to avoid raising descendants for his late brother, however, Onan "spilled his semen on the ground when he went in to his brother's wife, so that he would not give offspring to his brother" (Genesis 38:9).

In classic literature

Synonyms

masturbation

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