virginal

1
[ vur-juh-nl ]
/ ˈvɜr dʒə nl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR virginal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a virgin: virginal purity.
continuing in a state of virginity.
pure; unsullied; untouched: a virginal mountain stream.
Zoology. not fertilized.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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Origin of virginal

1
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin virginālis, equivalent to virgin- virgin + -ālis -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM virginal

vir·gin·al·ly, adverb

Words nearby virginal

virgin queen, virgin river, virgin soil, virgin wool, virgin's-bower, virginal, virginia, virginia and kentucky resolutions, virginia beach, virginia city, virginia cowslip

Definition for virginal (2 of 2)

virginal2
[ vur-juh-nl ]
/ ˈvɜr dʒə nl /

noun

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. 2020

Words related to virginal

pristine, chaste, angelic, clean, simple, stainless, celibate, quiet, virgin, vestal, moral, innocent, continent, nice, good, clear, safe, upright, austere, controlled

Example sentences from the Web for virginal

British Dictionary definitions for virginal (1 of 2)

virginal1
/ (ˈvɜːdʒɪnəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, characterized by, proper to, or maintaining a state of virginity; chaste
extremely pure or fresh; untouched; undefiled

Derived forms of virginal

virginally, adverb

Word Origin for virginal

C15: from Latin virginālis maidenly, from virgō virgin

British Dictionary definitions for virginal (2 of 2)

virginal2
/ (ˈvɜːdʒɪnəl) /

noun

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

Derived forms of virginal

virginalist, noun

Word Origin for virginal

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