defloration

[ def-luh-rey-shuh n, dee-fluh- ]

/ ˌdɛf ləˈreɪ ʃən, ˌdi flə- /

noun

Nearby words

Origin of defloration

1350–1400; Middle English defloracioun < Old French defloracion < Late Latin dēflōrātiōn- (stem of dēflōrātiō) a plucking of flowers, equivalent to dēflōrāt(us) (past participle of dēflōrāre to deflower) + -iōn- -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for defloration

The lust of fornication is more grievous, as it verges to the desire of varieties and of defloration.
The Delights of Wisdom Pertaining to Conjugial Love|Emanuel Swedenborg
Watts, V. M. Growth and fruiting responses to pruning and defloration of tomato plants.
The Tomato|Paul Work
Defloration thus has its powerful fascination in the respect consciously or unconsciously felt for woman's chastity.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 (of 6)|Havelock Ellis
The lust of fornication is more grievous as it verges to the desire of varieties and of defloration, n. 454.
The Delights of Wisdom Pertaining to Conjugial Love|Emanuel Swedenborg

It is self-abuse that leads gradually to the production of pain in defloration.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 3 (of 6)|Havelock Ellis

British Dictionary definitions for defloration

defloration

/ (ˌdiːflɔːˈreɪʃən) /

noun

the act of deflowering

Word Origin for defloration

C15: from Late Latin dēflorātiō; see de-, flower

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

Word Origin and History for defloration

defloration

late 14c., "culling of the finest passages from books," from Old French desfloracion (14c.), from Latin deflorationem "plucking of flowers," also "taking of (a woman's) virginity," noun of action from past participle stem of deflorare (see deflower). Cf. also anthology. Also used in Middle English with reference to virginity from c.1400.