Word Study
circumcise
CIDE DICTIONARY
circumcise, v. t. [L. circumcisus, p. p. of circumcidere to cut around, to circumcise; circum + caedere to cut; akin to E. cæsura, homicide, concise, and prob. to shed, v. t.].
- To cut off the prepuce of foreskin of, in the case of males, and the internal labia of, in the case of females. [1913 Webster]
- To purify spiritually. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
circumcise, v.tr.
1 cut off the foreskin, as a Jewish or Muslim rite or a surgical operation.
2 cut off the clitoris (and sometimes the labia), usu. as a religious rite.
3 Bibl. purify (the heart etc.).
1 cut off the foreskin, as a Jewish or Muslim rite or a surgical operation.
2 cut off the clitoris (and sometimes the labia), usu. as a religious rite.
3 Bibl. purify (the heart etc.).
Etymology
ME f. OF f. L circumcidere circumcis- (as CIRCUM-, caedere cut)
ROGET THESAURUS
circumcise
Disjunction
VB be disjoined, come off, fall off, come to pieces, fall to pieces, peel off, get loose, disjoin, disconnect, disengage, disunite, dissociate, dispair, divorce, part, dispart, detach, separate, cut off, rescind, segregate, set apart, keep apart, insulate, isolate, throw out of gear, cut adrift, loose, unloose, undo, unbind, unchain, unlock, unpack, unravel, disentangle, set free, sunder, divide, subdivide, sever, dissever, abscind, circumcise, cut, incide, incise, saw, snip, nib, nip, cleave, rive, rend, slit, split, splinter, chip, crack, snap, break, tear, burst, rend, rend asunder, rend in twain, wrench, rupture, shatter, shiver, cranch, crunch, craunch, chop, cut up, rip up, hack, hew, slash, whittle, haggle, hackle, discind, lacerate, scamble, mangle, gash, hash, slice, cut up, carve, dissect, anatomize, dislimb, take to pieces, pull to pieces, pick to pieces, tear to pieces, tear to tatters, tear piecemeal, tear limb from limb, divellicate, skin, disintegrate, dismember, disbranch, disband, disperse, dislocate, disjoint, break up, mince, comminute, apportion, part, part company, separate, leave.For further exploring for "circumcise" in Webster Dictionary Online