Middle English, from Anglo-French virgine, from Latin virgin-, virgo young woman, virgin First Known Use Noun 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6 Time Traveler The first known use of virgin was in the 12th century ...
Discover More Word History and Origins Origin ofvirgin1 First recorded in1150–1200;Middle Englishvirgine,fromAnglo-French,Old French,fromLatinvirgin-,stem ofvirgō“maiden, virgin” Discover More Example Sentences Polyphenol-rich foods such as dark chocolate, berries, red grapes, green tea and extr...
A person who has never had sexual intercourse. From the Latinvirgo, a maiden, so should, strictly, apply only to a female. The claimed physical sign of virginity, an intactHYMEN, cannot always be relied upon because the part is subject to wide anatomical variations and to trauma. Both the...
] took the plain meaning of scripture to say that Jesus patently had brothers and sisters, so therefore his mother, Mary, had enjoyed a normal family life rather than remaining perpetually virgin. Of a physical object, untouched. (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare the white cold virgin...
Meaning "young woman in a state of inviolate chastity" is recorded from c. 1300. Also applied since early 14c. to a chaste man. Meaning "naive or inexperienced person" is attested from 1953. The adjective is recorded from 1550s in the literal sense; figurative sense of "pure, untainted"...
Latin devirginatus, past participle of devirginare to deflower, from de from, away + -virginare (from virgin-, virgo girl, virgin) The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged. Expanded definitions Detailed etymologies Advan...
Virgo zodiacal constellation, c. 1000, from Latin constellation nameVirgo"the virgin" (seevirgin). Meaning "person born under the sign of Virgo" is attested from 1917.
Meaning "naive or inexperienced person" is attested from 1953. The adjective is recorded from 1550s in the literal sense; figurative sense of "pure, untainted" is attested from c. 1300. TheVirgin Islandswere named (in Spanish) by Columbus for St. Ursula and her 11,000 martyred virgin ...
"Luftmensch," literally meaning "air person," is the Yiddish way of describing someone who is a bit of a dreamer. Did You Know? The word "infant" comes from the Latin word "infans" which literally means "unable to speak; speechless." ...
This image was often referred to by its Latin name, Mater Dolorosa, meaning Sorrowing Mother. Musicians and poets also elaborated on this image in verse and song. The "Stabat Mater," a famous Latin hymn that invites listeners to enter into Mary's grief as she stood at the foot of the ...