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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.

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

Muir’s adventures in an almost virginal Yosemite will entrance park lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and California history buffs, the narrative swept along by Muir’s shimmering, deftly excerpted prose.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2023

The bride, dressed in virginal white, approached Bobby and whispered something in his ear that caused him to briefly abandon his station.

From Salon • Jul. 20, 2022

Thus is created a virginal society on which the author can wreak whatever literary havoc he chooses.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers

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.