A. adj. Unmarried, single; bound not to marry.
1829. Southey, Lett. (1856), IV. 148. If celibate, to lay by sufficient for his old age.
1863. J. M. Ludlow, Sisterhood, in Gd. Words, 493. The celibate girls … would scarcely fail to become … a community.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., § 5. 205. The present anomalous position of the celibate tutor-fellow.
1882. Farrar, Early Chr., I. 505. He [Jesus] never breathed one word to exalt the celibate over the wedded life.
B. sb. One who leads a single life, a confirmed bachelor or spinster; one bound not to marry.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 26. The proof may be very convincing to celibates.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 619, App. An order of female celibates or youthful nuns.
Hence Celibateness, Celibateship, = CELIBACY.
1775. in Ash.
