virginal

1
[ vur-juh-nl ]
See synonyms for virginal on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a virgin: virginal purity.

  2. continuing in a state of virginity.

  1. pure; unsullied; untouched: a virginal mountain stream.

  2. Zoology. not fertilized.

Origin of virginal

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin virginālis, equivalent to virgin- (stem of virgō virgin ) + -ālis -al1

Other words from virginal

  • vir·gin·al·ly, adverb

Words Nearby virginal

Other definitions for virginal (2 of 2)

virginal2
[ 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.

Origin of virginal

2
First recorded in 1520–30; apparently special use of virginal1

Other words from virginal

  • vir·gin·al·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use virginal in a sentence

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

    Camille (La Dame aux Camilias) | Alexandre Dumas, fils
  • He saw a mere slender slip of a body, a virginal body, straight-clad; the body and the face of a white child.

    The Creators | May Sinclair
  • But as soon as she had made this great advance, virginal instinct suggested a proportionate retreat.

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

    The Highgrader | William MacLeod Raine
  • Who that has had this window opened for him into the virginal chamber of awakening woman-life can look through it without tears?

    The Open Question | Elizabeth Robins

British Dictionary definitions for virginal (1 of 2)

virginal1

/ (ˈvɜːdʒɪnəl) /


adjective
  1. of, relating to, characterized by, proper to, or maintaining a state of virginity; chaste

  2. extremely pure or fresh; untouched; undefiled

Origin of virginal

1
C15: from Latin virginālis maidenly, from virgō virgin

Derived forms of virginal

  • virginally, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for virginal (2 of 2)

virginal2

/ (ˈvɜːdʒɪnəl) /


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

Origin of virginal

2
C16: probably from Latin virginālis virginal 1, perhaps because it was played largely by young ladies

Derived forms of virginal

  • virginalist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012