Definition of the word celibacy

The word "celibacy" originates from the Latin word "caelebs," which means "unmarried" or "unchaste." This Latin term is derived from "caelum," meaning "heaven" or "sky," and the suffix "-bem," which is a nominalizing suffix. In Latin, "caelebs" was used to describe someone who was unmarried, particularly a man who had not taken a wife. Over time, the meaning of the word gradually shifted to emphasize sexual abstinence rather than simply being unmarried. In the Middle English period, the word "celibacy" emerged, initially referring to a state of being unmarried, but eventually taking on its modern connotation of abstaining from sexual intercourse. Today, "celibacy" is used to describe a person's voluntary choice to refrain from sexual activity, often for religious or philosophical reasons.