Word Study
tonsure
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun tonsure has 2 senses
- tonsure(n = noun.body) - the shaved crown of a monk's or priest's head; is a kind of crown, pate, poll
- tonsure(n = noun.act) - shaving the crown of the head by priests or members of a monastic order; is a kind of shave, shaving
Derived form verb tonsure1
Derived form verb tonsure1
Verb tonsure has 1 sense
- tonsure(v = verb.body) - shave the head of a newly inducted monk; is one way to shave
Derived forms noun tonsure2, noun tonsure1
Sample sentence:
Somebody ----s somebody
CIDE DICTIONARY
tonsure, n. [F., fr. L. tonsura a shearing, clipping, from tondere, tonsum, to shear, shave; cf. Gr. to gnaw; perhaps akin to Gr. to cut, and E. tome.].
- The act of clipping the hair, or of shaving the crown of the head; also, the state of being shorn. [1913 Webster]
- The first ceremony used for devoting a person to the service of God and the church; the first degree of the clericate, given by a bishop, abbot, or cardinal priest, consisting in cutting off the hair from a circular space at the back of the head, with prayers and benedictions; hence, entrance or admission into minor orders. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
tonsure, n. & v.
--n.
1 the shaving of the crown of the head or the entire head, esp. of a person entering a priesthood or monastic order.
2 a bare patch made in this way.
--v.tr. give a tonsure to.
--n.
1 the shaving of the crown of the head or the entire head, esp. of a person entering a priesthood or monastic order.
2 a bare patch made in this way.
--v.tr. give a tonsure to.
Etymology
ME f. OF tonsure or L tonsura (as TONSORIAL)
ROGET THESAURUS
tonsure
Canonicals
N canonicals, vestments, robe, gown, Geneva gown frock, pallium, surplice, cassock, dalmatic, scapulary, cope, mozetta, scarf, tunicle, chasuble, alb, alba, stole, fanon, fannel, tonsure, cowl, hood, calote, calotte, bands, capouch, amice, vagas, vakas, vakass, apron, lawn sleeves, pontificals, pall, miter, tiara, triple crown, shovel hat, cardinal's hat, biretta, crosier, pastoral staff, thurifer, costume.
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