Medical Dictionary

onanism

noun onan·ism \ˈō-nə-ˌniz-əm\

Medical Definition of ONANISM

onan·is·tic \ˌō-nə-ˈnis-tik\ adjective

Biographical Note for ONANISM

Onan, \ˈō-nən\ Biblical character. In the Book of Genesis Onan was commanded by his father to impregnate the widow of his slain brother and to raise the offspring of the union. In order to avoid raising descendants for his late brother, however, Onan engaged in coitus interruptus.

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