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virginal

1 American  
[vur-juh-nl] / ˈvɜr dʒə 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 American  
[vur-juh-nl] / ˈvɜr dʒə 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 British  
/ ˈvɜːdʒɪnəl /

adjective

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

  2. extremely pure or fresh; untouched; undefiled

"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
virginal 2 British  
/ ˈvɜːdʒɪnəl /

noun

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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • virginalist noun
  • virginally adverb

Etymology

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

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.

Sister Megan is a virginal bride of Christ, and a journalist with a morbid fascination with serial killers and crime scenes.

From Salon • Oct. 4, 2024

Set in Rome in 1971 just before the events of the first movie, “The First Omen’s” central figure is Margaret Daino, a dewy, virginal American novitiate played by Nell Tiger Free.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 5, 2024

Before Roberts, the romance genre was dominated by tepid and virginal women who were overpowered by brooding men.

From New York Times • Nov. 18, 2023

While as a piece of sculpture, the first Barbie doll was virtually indistinguishable from the Lilli doll, Handler positioned Barbie as a wholesome, virginal, all-American girl next door.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2023

I had some success with the strings of the lute, but my fingers fumbled on the keys of the virginal.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.