Crossword clues for eunuch
eunuch
- Harem guard, typically
- A man who has been castrated and is incapable of reproduction
- Greek letter to church after European Union employee found in harem
- Man once employed as a harem guard
- Castrated man
- Castrated male
- One deprived of his masculinity?
- Falsetto's first number in French in Brussels church
- Harem guard specially cut out for the job
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Eunuch \Eu"nuch\, Eunuchate \Eu"nuch*ate\, v. t. [L. eunuchare.]
To make a eunuch of; to castrate. as a man.
--Creech. Sir. T.
Browne.
Eunuch \Eu"nuch\, n. [L. eunuchus, Gr. ?, prop., keeping or guarding the couch; ? couch, bed, + ? to have, hold, keep.] A male of the human species castrated; commonly, one of a class of such persons, in Oriental countries, having charge of the women's apartments. Some of them, in former times, gained high official rank.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"castrated man," late 14c., from Middle French eunuque and directly from Latin eunuchus, from Greek eunoukhos "castrated man," originally "guard of the bedchamber or harem," from euno-, comb. form of eune "bed," a word of unknown origin, + -okhos, from stem of ekhein "to have, hold" (see scheme (n.)).\nEunuches is he þat is i-gilded, and suche were somtyme i-made wardeynes of ladyes in Egipt. [John of Trevisa, translation of Higdon's Polychronicon, 1387]\nHarem attendants in Oriental courts and under the Roman emperors were charged with important affairs of state. The Greek and Latin forms of the word were used in the sense "castrated man" in the Bible but also to translate Hebrew saris, which sometimes meant merely "palace official," in Septuagint and Vulgate, probably without an intended comment on the qualities of bureaucrats. Related: Eunuchal; eunuchry; eunuchize.
Wiktionary
n. 1 A castrated human male. 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 (context in translations of ancient texts English) A man who is not inclined to marry and procreate.
WordNet
n. a man who has been castrated and is incapable of reproduction; "eunuchs guarded the harem" [syn: castrate]
Wikipedia
A eunuch (; ) is a man who was castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences. In some ancient texts, "eunuch" may refer to a man who is not castrated but who is impotent, celibate, or otherwise not inclined to marry and procreate. In Latin, the words eunuchus, spado (Greek: spadon), and castratus were used to denote eunuchs.
Castration was typically carried out on the soon-to-be eunuch without his consent in order that he might perform a specific social function; this was common in many societies. The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 21st century BC. Over the millennia since, they have performed a wide variety of functions in many different cultures: courtiers or equivalent domestics, treble singers, religious specialists, soldiers, royal guards, government officials, and guardians of women or harem servants.
Eunuchs would usually be servants or slaves who had been castrated in order to make them reliable servants of a royal court where physical access to the ruler could wield great influence. Seemingly lowly domestic functions—such as making the ruler's bed, bathing him, cutting his hair, carrying him in his litter, or even relaying messages—could in theory give a eunuch "the ruler's ear" and impart de facto power on the formally humble but trusted servant. Similar instances are reflected in the humble origins and etymology of many high offices (e.g., chancellor originally denoted a servant guarding the entrance to an official's study).
Eunuchs supposedly did not generally have loyalties to the military, the aristocracy, or to a family of their own (having neither offspring nor in-laws, at the very least), and were thus seen as more trustworthy and less interested in establishing a private 'dynasty'. Because their condition usually lowered their social status, they could also be easily replaced or killed without repercussion. In cultures that had both harems and eunuchs, eunuchs were sometimes used as harem servants (compare the female odalisque) or seraglio guards.
Eunuch is a TVB television series, premiered in 1980. Theme song "Eunuch" composition and arrangement by Joseph Koo, lyricist by Wong Jim, sung by Adam Cheng.
Eunuch is a 1986 South Korean drama film directed by Lee Doo-yong. The film was selected as the South Korean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 59th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.
Usage examples of "eunuch".
Once a eunuch surgeon to the harem of Sultan Mehomet, the viceroy of Egypt, Masri had served Amir Bedawi, Lionel Templeton faithfully from the day Lionel had freed him.
Of course, she succeeded in squeezing out only the thin, pale areolar lymph that almost any corpulent woman or even a fat eunuch can express from her or his breast.
In the end she promised a great reward to my keeper for the custody of me one night, who for gaine of a little money accorded to her desire, and when I had supped in a Parler with my Master, we departed away and went into our Chamber, where we found the faire Matron, who had tarried a great space for our comming : I am not able to recite unto you how all things were prepared : there were foure Eunuches that lay on a bed of downe on the ground with Boulsters accordingly for us to lye on, the Coverlet was of cloth of Gold, and the pillowes soft and tender, whereon the delicate Matron had accustomed to lay her head.
The eunuch came to me, informed me that his master was out, but that he would be delighted to hear of my having taken a walk in the garden.
I could not see who led the mad dash, for it seemed they all went at once, unarmed Furies in ragged attire, running wild for the festal hall, and most of the eunuchs with them.
Romans abhorred eunuchs, flagellatory rites, and what was considered religious barbarism.
Junior eunuch in attendance on Old Hai, murdered and subsequently impersonated by Trinket.
Ceda Kuru Qan, First Eunuch Nifadas, Preda Unnutal Hebaz and perhaps First Concubine Nisall.
Yoonistan, and his wines of Ferangistan, his eunuchs of Egypt, and his carpets of Bokhara, and his great sealed boxes bursting with unbeaten gold, and his beads of amethyst, and his bracelets of sapphire, all this and all his women, his chosen flower-like women, are yours for lust and loot and lechery, my children--all save her of whom I warned you--a woman who was mine, and who shall sit unveiled with me on the throne of all the Caliphs.
First Eunuch Nifadas was positioned to the right of the throne, holding the Lether crown on a blood-red pillow.
We were brought in manacled and hooded, and the only one who sees us is a mute eunuch who is absolutely loyal to Oary the Usurper.
Lalyahe shrieked orders for counterattack, but the eunuchs and priestesses only parted ranks before the tight phalanx of knife-and-club-armed raiding party.
Dicky scarcely heard what the Arab said, for the quick conviction he had had that Sowerby was alive was based on the fact, suddenly remembered, that Selamlik Pasha had only returned from the Fayoum this very morning, and that therefore he could not as yet have had any share in the fate of Sowerby, but had probably been sent for by the Chief Eunuch.
Shall I go to the Khedive and say that this night Mustapha Bey, eldest and chosen son of Selamlik Pasha, the darling of his fat heart, was seized by the Chief Eunuch, the gentle Mizraim, in the harem of his Highness?
The eunuch suspected some kind of Janissary plot, but the seraskier had prudently decided to keep his terms vague.