— circumciser , n.
/serr"keuhm suyz'/ , v.t., circumcised, circumcising .
1. to remove the prepuce of (a male), esp. as a religious rite.
2. to remove the clitoris, prepuce, or labia of (a female).
3. to purify spiritually.
[ 1200-50; ME circumcisen circumcisus (ptp. of circumcidere to cut around), equiv. to circum- CIRCUM- + -cisus ( -cid- cut + -tus ptp. suffix; see -CIDE) ]