onanism
UK[ˈəʊnənɪzəm]US[ˈoʊnənɪzəm]
n
the act of withdrawing the penis before ejaculation during sexual intercourse.
n
masturbation.
Etymology
the term originates from the biblical figure onan, son of judah, as recounted in the book of genesis. onan was instructed to perform levirate marriage with his brother's widow but "spilled his seed on the ground" to avoid producing offspring for his deceased brother, an act god viewed as wicked. his name, onan, became eponymously associated with the specific act of coitus interruptus. by the early 18th century, the derived term 'onanism' had broadened in medical and theological discourse to encompass the concept of masturbation, linking it to the idea of wasted seed or non-procreative sexual activity.
Analysis
this is a simplex word derived from a proper name. it does not contain separable, productive morphemes in modern english.
Examples
the old medical text erroneously classified onanism as a cause of numerous physical and mental ailments.
his religious teachings condemned both adultery and onanism as grave sins.
the therapist discussed historical attitudes toward onanism during the lecture on human sexuality.