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  • virgin birth
    virgin birth
    noun
    the doctrine or dogma that, by the miraculous agency of God, the birth of Christ did not impair or prejudice the virginity of Mary.
  • Virgin Birth
    Virgin Birth
    noun
    the doctrine that Jesus Christ had no human father but was conceived solely by the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit so that Mary remained miraculously a virgin during and after his birth

virgin birth

American  

noun

  1. Theology. the doctrine or dogma that, by the miraculous agency of God, the birth of Christ did not impair or prejudice the virginity of Mary.

  2. Zoology. parthenogenesis; parturition by a female who has not copulated.


Virgin Birth 1 British  

noun

  1. the doctrine that Jesus Christ had no human father but was conceived solely by the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit so that Mary remained miraculously a virgin during and after his birth

"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

virgin birth 2 British  

noun

  1. another name for parthenogenesis

"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

Etymology

Origin of virgin birth

First recorded in 1645–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"In our genetically manipulated flies, the females waited to find a male for half their lives - about 40 days - but then gave up and proceeded to have a virgin birth."

From Salon Jul. 28, 2023

This isn’t the first case of a virgin birth in the animal kingdom.

From Scientific American Jun. 9, 2023

Scientists discovered a virgin birth in a stillborn crocodile that had only its mother’s genetic material.

From New York Times Jun. 8, 2023

The phenomenon of so-called "virgin birth" has been found in species of birds, fish and other reptiles, but never before in crocodiles.

From BBC Jun. 7, 2023

He replied: I can speak freely, because I happen to hold two of the dogmas which most people quarrel about—the virgin birth and the physical resurrection.

From Painted Windows Studies in Religious Personality by Begbie, Harold

I wouldn’t pretend to guess how divinity interacted with human DNA, but that’s the mystery the Virgin Birth hints at.

From New York Times Dec. 21, 2019

However, it excludes Christians who, for example, may not affirm a belief in the Virgin Birth, or who are convinced gay marriage is compatible with the teachings of the Bible.

From Salon Jun. 10, 2018

One section of the book is called "Virgin Birth - Myth or Historical Truth?"

From Reuters Nov. 20, 2012

Eight out of 10 believed in the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and two thirds in the Virgin Birth.

From BBC Mar. 9, 2010

“I didn’t have no words thought out, you know, so I jest commenced sayin’ thangs I been a-thinkin’ on lately—bout the Virgin Birth and Resurrection and all like thet.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

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