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Definition of onanism
1 : masturbation
3 : self-gratification the kind of intellectual onanism to which he was dedicated — Esther P. Shiverick
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Origin and Etymology of onanism
probably from New Latin onanismus, from Onan, son of Judah (Genesis 38:9)
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Biographical Note for onanism
Onan
\ˈō-nən\play , Biblical character. In the Book of Genesis Onan was commanded by his father to impregnate the widow of his slain brother and to raise the offspring of the union. In order to avoid raising descendants for his late brother, however, Onan engaged in coitus interruptus.
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