the state of unmarried persons. Scaliger derives the word from the Greek οὔρος, "bed," and ἀνήρ, "man," "I leave:" others say it is formed from cali beatitudinis; q. d. the blessedness of heaven.

The ancient Romans used all means imaginable to discourage celibacy. Nothing was more usual than for the censors to impose a fine on bachelors. Dionysius Halicarnassensis mentions an ancient constitution whereby all persons of full age were obliged to marry. But the first law of that kind, of which we have any certainty, is that under Augustus, called lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus. It was afterwards denominated Papia Poppaea, and more usually Julia Papia, in regard of some new sanction and amendments made to it under the consuls Papius and Poppaeus. By this law, divers prerogatives were given to persons who had many children; penalties imposed on those who lived a single life, as that they should be incapable of receiving legacies, and not exceeding a certain proportion.