uncircumcised
1
9.9
- adjective
- /ˌʌnˈsɜr.kəm.saɪzd/
- Offensive
- By contrast, the cinquecento colossi of Florence's Piazza della Signoria appeared proudly uncircumcised, even Michelangelo's David, a subject where it would have been appropriate.
Examples
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- Death to the uncircumcised!
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In a most dramatic dialogue while planning the liberation of the Jews, Moses (who was supposed to have had a speech impediment) suddenly uttered, "Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh harken unto me?"
Academic text (1996) -
Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.
Blog text (9) -
Thanks for joining us Jordan for the Uncircumcised segment.
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And he's like, yeah, He's like, you're gonna let this uncircumcised philistine just sit here and disrespect us?
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There is only one thing that we would now point out from this passage: in v.10 it is said of him, "Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised," which is a very strong hint that he ought not to die the deaths of the "uncircumcised" because he belonged to the Circumcision!
Blog text (6) -
There is only one thing that we would now point out from this passage: in v.10 it is said of him, "Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised," which is a very strong hint that he ought not to die the deaths of the "uncircumcised" because he belonged to the Circumcision!
Blog text (6) -
They used derogatory language about uncircumcised men to refer to Raila Odinga, whose Luo ethnic group did not engage in the practice of circumcision.
Academic text (2009) -
"Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean."
Blog text (5) -
Many considered his behavior uncircumcised, lacking the tact and refinement expected in polite society.
Synonyms
14
5.9
Showing little social or cultural development and often acting rude and violent
10
8.4
Not polite or well behaved in a rough way
1
7.2
Not showing good manners toward others
A society that has little culture or social development
Antonyms
How Refined
Surface Forms
Morphology
uncircumcised = circumcised (opaque) = un + circumcise + ed
This figurative or archaic sense ('lacking refinement' or 'uncivilized') is not derivable from the medical sense of 'circumcised' and reflects a historical/figurative shift.
Etymology
In older language, uncircumcised was used as an insult to mean someone 'unclean' or 'not part of the group' because circumcision was a sign of belonging in some religions. That's why the word could be used to say someone was rude or 'lacking culture'.