skoptsy

/ˈskɒptsi/ (SKOP-see)

Definitions

1. noun

A member of a 19th-century Russian sect that practiced castration and other forms of self-mutilation as a means of spiritual purification

“The anthropologist studied the history of the skoptsy, a sect known for its extreme practices.”

Synonyms

  • mystic
  • sectarian

Antonyms

  • mainstream
  • orthodox