bar mitzvah
1 of 2noun
bar mitz·vah bär-ˈmits-və 
often capitalized B&M
1
: a Jewish boy who reaches his 13th birthday and attains the age of religious duty and responsibility
2
: the initiatory ceremony recognizing a boy as a bar mitzvah
bar mitzvah
2 of 2verb
bar mitzvahed; bar mitzvahing
transitive verb
: to administer the ceremony of bar mitzvah to
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Hebrew bar miṣwāh, literally, son of the (divine) law
First Known Use
Noun
1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1922, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
bar mitzvah
noun
bar mitz·vah bär-ˈmits-və
often capitalized B&M
1
: a Jewish boy who at 13 years of age takes on religious responsibilities
2
: the ceremony recognizing a boy as a bar mitzvah