VIRGINING

VIRGIN

Vir"gin, n. Etym: [L. virgo, -inis: cf. OF. virgine, virgene, virge, vierge, F. vierge.]

1. A woman who has had no carnal knowledge of man; a maid.

2. A person of the male sex who has not known sexual indulgence. [Archaic] Wyclif. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. Rev. xiv. 4. He his flesh hath overcome; He was a virgin, as he said. Gower.

3. (Astron.)

Definition: See Virgo.

4. (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any one of several species of gossamer-winged butterflies of the family Lycænidæ.

5. (Zoöl.)

Definition: A female insect producing eggs from which young are hatched, though there has been no fecundation by a male; a parthenogenetic insect. The Virgin, or The Blessed Virgin, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord.

– Virgin's bower (Bot.), a name given to several climbing plants of the genus Clematis, as C. Vitalba of Europe, and C. Virginiana of North America.

Vir"gin, a.

1. Being a virgin; chaste; of or pertaining to a virgin; becoming a virgin; maidenly; modest; indicating modesty; as, a virgin blush. "Virgin shame." Cowley. Innocence and virgin modesty . . . That would be wooed, and unsought be won. Milton.

2. Pure; undefiled; unmixed; fresh; new; as, virgin soil; virgin gold. "Virgin Dutch." G. W. Cable. The white cold virgin snow upon my heart. Shak. A few ounces of mutton, with a little virgin oil. Landor.

3. Not yet pregnant; impregnant. Milton.

Vir"gin, v. i.

Definition: To act the virgin; to be or keep chaste; -- followed by it. See It, 5. [Obs.] "My true lip hath virgined it e'er since [that kiss]." Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition