eunuch

Etymology

From Middle English eunuk, from Middle French eunuque, from Latin eunūchus, from Ancient Greek εὐνοῦχος (eunoûkhos), from εὐνή (eunḗ, “bed”) + ἔχω (ékhō, “I have, keep”). Originally probably used to refer to a bed chamber attendant.

noun

  1. A castrated human male.
    Semiramis was the first woman to invent eunuchs and women have had sympathy for them ever since; […] and women can tell them what they can't tell other men. 1922, Michael Arlen, “2/1/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days
  2. Such a man employed as harem guard or in certain (mainly Eastern) monarchies (e.g. late Roman and Chinese Empires) as court or state officials.
  3. (in translations of ancient texts) A man who is not inclined to marry and procreate.

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