First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
circumcise
verb cir·cum·cise \ˈsər-kəm-ˌsīz\
: to cut off the skin (called the foreskin) at the end of the penis of (a man or boy)
: to cut off the clitoris or outer sexual organs of (a woman or girl)
cir·cum·cisedcir·cum·cis·ing
Full Definition of CIRCUMCISE
transitive verb
1
: to cut off the foreskin of (a male) or the prepuce of (a female)
2
: to cut off all or part of the external genitalia and especially the clitoris and labia minora of (a female)
— cir·cum·cis·er noun
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Origin of CIRCUMCISE
Middle English, from Latin circumcisus, past participle of circumcidere, from circum- + caedere to cut
Rhymes with CIRCUMCISE
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Medical Dictionary
circumcise
transitive verb cir·cum·cise \ˈsər-kəm-ˌsīz\
cir·cum·cisedcir·cum·cis·ing
Medical Definition of CIRCUMCISE
: to cut off the prepuce of (a male) or the clitoris of (a female)
—cir·cum·cis·er noun
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