Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Virgin?

\Vir"gin\, n. [L. virgo, -inis: cf. OF. virgine, virgene, virge, vierge, F. vierge.] 1. A woman who has had no carnal knowledge of man; a maid. 2. A person of the male sex who has not known sexual indulgence. [Archaic] --Wyclif. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. --Rev. xiv. 4. He his flesh hath overcome; He was a virgin, as he said. --Gower. 3. (Astron.) See {Virgo}. 4. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of gossamer-winged butterflies of the family {Lyc[ae]nid[ae]}. 5. (Zo["o]l.) A female insect producing eggs from which young are hatched, though there has been no fecundation by a male; a parthenogenetic insect. {The Virgin}, or {The Blessed Virgin}, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord. {Virgin's bower} (Bot.), a name given to several climbing plants of the genus {Clematis}, as {C. Vitalba} of Europe, and {C. Virginiana} of North America.
\Vir"gin\, a. 1. Being a virgin; chaste; of or pertaining to a virgin; becoming a virgin; maidenly; modest; indicating modesty; as, a virgin blush. ``Virgin shame.'' --Cowley. Innocence and virgin modesty . . . That would be wooed, and unsought be won. --Milton. 2. Pure; undefiled; unmixed; fresh; new; as, virgin soil; virgin gold. ``Virgin Dutch.'' --G. W. Cable. The white cold virgin snow upon my heart. --Shak. A few ounces of mutton, with a little virgin oil. --Landor. 3. Not yet pregnant; impregnant. --Milton.
\Vir"gin\, v. i. To act the virgin; to be or keep chaste; -- followed by it. See {It}, 5. [Obs.] ``My true lip hath virgined it e'er since [that kiss].'' --Shak.