Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Language: Latin
Origin: caelibatus, from caelebs 'unmarried'

celibate

 adjective
     
cel‧i‧bate
not married and not having sex, especially because of your religious beliefs [↪ virgin]:
Catholic priests are required to be celibate.
—celibate noun [countable]
—celibacy noun [uncountable]
a vow of celibacy
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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