maiden

[meyd-n]

noun

1. a girl or young unmarried woman; maid.

2. Archaic.,  a female virgin.

3. Maiden, (in Neopaganism) the first form of the Goddess, represented as a young woman and said to symbolize youth and the first stages of life or growth.

4. a horse that has never won a race.

5. a race open only to maiden horses.

6. an instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.

7. Cricket.,  maiden over.

adjective

1. Archaic.,  of, relating to, or befitting a girl or unmarried woman.

   her maiden virtues.

2. Archaic.,  (of a woman, especially one past middle age) unmarried.

   my maiden aunt.

3. (of a girl or woman) never having had sexual intercourse; virgin.

4. made, tried, appearing, etc., for the first time.

   a maiden flight.

5. (of a horse) never having won a race or a prize.

6. (of a prize or a race) offered for or open only to maiden horses.

7. untried, as a knight, soldier, or weapon.

maiden

/ ˈmeɪdən /

noun

1. archaic

   1. a young unmarried girl, esp when a virgin

   2. ( as modifier )

      a maiden blush

2. horse racing

   1. a horse that has never won a race

   2. ( as modifier )

      a maiden race

3. cricket See maiden over

4. Also called: clothes maiden. dialect,  a frame on which clothes are hung to dry; clothes horse

5. (modifier) of or relating to an older unmarried woman

   a maiden aunt

6. (modifier) of or involving an initial experience or attempt

   a maiden voyage

   maiden speech

7. (modifier) (of a person or thing) untried; unused

8. (modifier) (of a place) never trodden, penetrated, or captured

Other Word Forms

• maidenish adjective
• maidenship noun
• maiden-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of maiden¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English mægden, equivalent to mægd, mæg(e)th (cognate with German Magd, Gothic magaths ) + -en -en ⁵

Word History and Origins

Origin of maiden¹

Old English mægden; related to Old High German magad, Old Norse mogr young man, Old Irish mug slave

Example Sentences

Guardiola's 100th Champions League match as City boss was a damp squib, in stark contrast to so many of the previous 99, which includes 62 wins and the club's maiden European crown in 2023.

Read more on Barron's

Days before the Champagne bottle was broken over the bow for its maiden voyage last week, I boarded the ship to watch the final preparations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen produced a masterful drive to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday as McLaren's Lando Norris finished second to edge closer to a maiden drivers' title.

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Norris is aiming to tighten his grip on the championship this weekend after back-to-back wins that have left him eyeing a maiden title.

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Lando Norris maintained his charge towards a maiden Formula One crown on Friday by grabbing his third pole position in as many races at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• inaugural 
• introductory