cilice: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/RareLiterary, Historical, Religious
Quick answer
What does “cilice” mean?
A garment or undergarment made of coarse haircloth, traditionally worn by ascetics and penitents for self-mortification.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A garment or undergarment made of coarse haircloth, traditionally worn by ascetics and penitents for self-mortification.
By extension, can refer to any device or garment designed to inflict discomfort as a form of religious discipline or self-punishment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or academic texts due to the influence of Anglican and Catholic history.
Connotations
Carries heavy connotations of extreme piety, self-denial, and medieval or early Christian religious practice.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency word. Most encounters will be in specialized religious history, literature (e.g., 'The Da Vinci Code'), or metaphorical usage.
Grammar
How to Use “cilice” in a Sentence
VERB + CILICE: wear, don, adopt, use, make; ADJ + CILICE: rough, itchy, penitential, monastic, hiddenVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cilice” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The medieval monk's daily routine included wearing a cilice beneath his habit.
- In the museum, a grim-looking cilice was displayed next to the relics.
American English
- The character in the novel used a cilice as part of his extreme penance.
- Historical accounts describe the cilice as a tool for mastering physical desire.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, or literary analysis contexts.
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a precise term in the study of religious asceticism or material culture.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cilice”
- Mispronouncing as /saɪˈliːs/ or /ˈkɪlɪs/.
- Spelling as 'silice' or 'cilise'.
- Using it to refer to any uncomfortable clothing, losing the specific religious/penitential connotation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Extremely rarely, and only within some very traditionalist Catholic or Orthodox communities. Its modern usage is almost entirely historical or metaphorical.
Traditionally, it was made of coarse animal hair (like goat or horsehair) woven into a rough cloth. Modern versions might use wire or other abrasive materials.
They are essentially synonyms. 'Cilice' is the more technical/formal term derived from Latin ('cilicium'), while 'hairshirt' is the descriptive English term.
Yes. It can describe any source of persistent mental discomfort or guilt, e.g., 'The memory of his failure was a cilice he wore every day.'
A garment or undergarment made of coarse haircloth, traditionally worn by ascetics and penitents for self-mortification.
Cilice is usually literary, historical, religious in register.
Cilice: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪlɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪlɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word itself is metaphorically used, e.g., 'His guilt was a mental cilice.'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SILence requires sacrifice' – a CILICE is a silent, secret sacrifice worn against the skin.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELF-PUNISHMENT IS A COARSE GARMENT / GUILT IS AN ITCHY FABRIC.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'cilice'?