eunuch

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a man who has been castrated

   The physician's account describes how the captive was made a eunuch.

2. 2
   noun

   historically, a castrated man employed as a court official, chamberlain, or guard

   The trusted eunuch served as an adviser at the imperial court.

Simplified etymology

Eunuch came through Latin from Greek eunoukhos, literally “bedroom guard.” The Greek compound combines eunē, “bed,” with an element related to ekhein, “to hold.”

From Middle English eunuk, through Old French and Latin eunuchus, from Ancient Greek eunoukhos. The Greek word is traditionally analyzed as eune, 'bed,' plus ekhein, 'to keep,' reflecting the role of a trusted bedchamber attendant; it later denoted a castrated court servant.

Topics

External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary