virginal

¹

[ vur-juh-nl ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a virgin:

   virginal purity.

2. continuing in a state of virginity.
3. pure; unsullied; untouched:

   a virginal mountain stream.

4. Zoology. not fertilized.

virginal

²

[ vur-juh-nl ]

noun

1. Often virginals. a rectangular harpsichord with the strings stretched parallel to the keyboard, the earlier types placed on a table: popular in the 16th and 17th centuries.

virginal

¹

/ ˈvɜːdʒɪnəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, characterized by, proper to, or maintaining a state of virginity; chaste
2. extremely pure or fresh; untouched; undefiled

virginal

²

/ ˈvɜːdʒɪnəl /

noun

1. often plural a smaller version of the harpsichord, but oblong in shape, having one manual and no pedals

Derived Forms

• ˈvirginally, adverb
• ˈvirginalist, noun

Other Words From

• virgin·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of virginal¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin virginālis, equivalent to virgin- (stem of virgō virgin ) + -ālis -al ¹

Origin of virginal²

First recorded in 1520–30; apparently special use of virginal ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of virginal¹

C15: from Latin virginālis maidenly, from virgō virgin

Origin of virginal²

C16: probably from Latin virginālis virginal ¹, perhaps because it was played largely by young ladies

Example Sentences

Many tons of pink salt, which has a virginal, untouched aura, are mined in the Himalayas and exported.

From MIT Technology Review

McCarthy wore a virginal white wedding dress for the occasion.

From The Daily Beast

The impression is left that this project would despoil a virginal natural landscape.

From The Daily Beast

They need to be converted from 1990s-Lolita to virginal-Miss Havisham in a matter of minutes.

From The Daily Beast

And on the page, we finally get to meet the virginal Carrie, literally pre- Sex.

From The Daily Beast

Her face, too, was inexpressibly virginal in its expression of innocence and of melancholy suffering.

From Project Gutenberg

He saw a mere slender slip of a body, a virginal body, straight-clad; the body and the face of a white child.

From Project Gutenberg

But as soon as she had made this great advance, virginal instinct suggested a proportionate retreat.

From Project Gutenberg

The troubled virginal sweetness of the girl went to his soul.

From Project Gutenberg

Who that has had this window opened for him into the virginal chamber of awakening woman-life can look through it without tears?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• angelic
• chaste
• pristine