I. (ˈ)bärˈmitsvə, -(ˌ)vä noun
( plural bar mitzvahs -vəz, -(ˌ)väz ; or bar mitz·vot or bar mitz·voth -ˌvōth, -ōt, -ōs)
Usage: often capitalized B&M
Etymology: Hebrew bar miṣwāh, literally, son of the (divine) law or precept
1. : a Jewish boy who has reached his 13th birthday and has attained the age of religious duty and responsibility — compare bath mitzvah
2. : the initiatory synagogue ceremony recognizing a boy as a bar mitzvah
II. transitive verb
( bar mitzvahed ; bar mitzvahed ; bar mitzvahing ; bar mitzvahs )
Usage: often capitalized B&M
: to administer the ceremony of bar mitzvah to