Etymology Probably from the noun (“celibacy”) or from celibacy on the model of privacy/private, etc. Alternatively, from Latin caelebs (“single”) + -ate.
1
Not married.
Chiefly religious
2
Broadly Abstaining from sexual relations and pleasures.
Members of religious communities sometimes take vows to remain celibate.
Juanita went celibate for a while and then started going out with Da5id and eventually got married to him.1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 57:
Etymology From Latin caelebs + -ate (noun-forming suffix)
1
One who is not married, especially one who has taken a religious vow not to get married, usually because of being a member of a religious community.
Even during the ages that priestly marriage was permitted, celibates obtained a higher reputation for sanctity and virtue than married priests, who infinitely more than celibates were believed subject to infestation by demons.1893, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Woman, Church and State: A Historical Account of the Status of Woman Through the Christian Ages: with Reminiscences of the Matriarchate:
However, be that as it may, Stason celebrated with the boys while Hessel celibated alone.1941, Michigan Raw Review, page 34:
These kids were winding up 45 years and 4 days of celebrating. Me? I'm winding up seven years of celibating looking for a patient virgin.1973, Stevens Indicator - Volumes 90-91, page 55:
3 more examples
RICHARD: The Franciscans have turned me down, Angelina. They have asked me to travel another road to sainthood. TOM: Richard is done with celibating!1983, Jerry Bamman, Ecco!, page 1-36:
But if she must break off her celibating, it's a shame and a pity she had to choose him to do it with.2010, Joan Smith, Aurora:
But also with labels like “whore” and “slut”, as a male, it's annoying, because, women don't need to be chastised and made colder in this ice age we live in— they need to be warmed up, turned on, complimented, celebrated (not celibated), encouraged to enjoy their bodies, and pursue pleasure soberly and intelligently.2012, Ted Huntington, Big Science Secrets, Lies, and Mistakes, page 129:
celibate
noun
Etymology From French célibat (“celibacy”), from Latin caelibātus (“celibacy”), from caelebs (“unmarried”); compare German Zölibat (“celibacy”). Equivalent to Latin caelebs + -ate (forming nouns denoting a rank, a state)
He […] preferreth holy Cœlibate before the eſtate of Marriage, […]1678, Jeremy Taylor, “The History of the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus: […]. The Third Part.”, in Antiquitates Christianæ: Or, the History of the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus: […], London: […] E. Flesher, and R. Norton, for R[ichard] Royston, […], →OCLC, section XIV (Of the Third Year of the Preaching of Jesus), page 327:
And Mrs Gorman had had several admirers, both before and after Mr Gorman, and even during Mr Gorman, and Watt at least two well defined romances, in the course of his celibate.1953, Samuel Beckett, chapter II, in Watt, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, published 1959, →OCLC, page 139: