tonsure

Speech parts

1. tonsure - Noun

2. tonsure - Verb

Meaning

The act of clipping the hair, or of shaving the crown of the head; also, the state of being shorn.

The first ceremony used for devoting a person to the service of God and the church; the first degree of the clericate, given by a bishop, abbot, or cardinal priest, consisting in cutting off the hair from a circular space at the back of the head, with prayers and benedictions; hence, entrance or admission into minor orders.

The shaven corona, or crown, which priests wear as a mark of their order and of their rank.

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Examples

Originally they wanted it to be bigger, but I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded to have the smallest tonsure that they could get away with. A tonsure that could still be seen, but, I worried about my social life! Derek Jacobi

At issue were the tonsure, the observance of Easter, and practical and deep-rooted differences in approach to asceticism, missionary endeavours, and how the church itself was organised. Source: Internet

Edward Gosselin has suggested that it is likely Bruno kept his tonsure at least until 1579, and it is possible that he wore it again thereafter. Source: Internet

However, if a married priest is widowed, he may receive monastic tonsure and thus become eligible for the episcopate. Source: Internet

Bishops are almost always chosen from among monks, and those who are not generally receive the monastic tonsure before their consecrations. Source: Internet

Gregory also received the clerical tonsure from Gallus. Source: Internet

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