sb. and a. Forms: α. 3, 5 uirgine, 3–7 virgine (6 wir-), 4, 6 virgyne (5 wir-), 4–5 vyrgyne (4 wyr-), 5 vyrgine. β. 4 uirgin, 4–6 virgyn (5 uirgyn, 6 wirgynne), 5–6 vyrgyn (6 wyr-), 5– virgin (5 wyr-, 6 wirgin). γ. 4 vergyne, 4–5 vergine (4 uer-), vergyn. δ. 5 vyrgene (wyr-), 5–6 virgen(e. [a. AF. and OF. virgine, virgene, viergene, etc. (= It. vergine, Sp. virgen, Pg. virgem):—L. virginem, acc. of virgo maiden. OF. also had the reduced forms virge, vierge, mod.F. vierge.]
I. 1. Eccl. An unmarried or chaste maiden or woman, distinguished for piety or steadfastness in religion, and regarded as having a special place among the members of the Christian church on account of these merits.
Chiefly used with reference to early Christian times.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 785. Ðar haueð … martirs, and confessors, and uirgines maked faier bode inne to wunien.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2310. I þe feire ferreden of uirgines in heouene.
c. 1290. Beket, 2302, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 172. Fair was þat processioun … Of Martirs and of confessours and of virgines þ-to.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 8270. And she ys callede Seynt Iustyne, A martyr and an holy vyrgyne.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 1098. Þis noble cite … Was sodanly ful … of such vergynez in þe same gyse Þat was my blysful anvnder croun.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 8. Seint Katerine þe gloriouse virgyne and martyr.
c. 1430. Life St. Kath. (1884), 59. Þe wykked tyraunt … saat in hys astat and bad þat þe holy virgyn schold be presented to hym.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxv. 46. Patriarchis, profeitis, and appostillis deir, Confessouris, virgynis and marteris cleir.
c. 1610. Women Saints (1886), 92. Modwene … became the mistresse of verie many like professed and holie virgins.
1652. J. Taylor (Water P.), Short Relat. Long Journ. (1859), 10. The pious and chaste virgin Winifrid.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., In the Roman Breviary, there is a particular Office for Virgins departed.
1810. E. D. Clarke, Trav. Russia (1839), 56/1. A host of saints, virgins, and bishops, whose pictures covered the walls.
1862. Burton, Bk. Hunter, IV. 326. St. Ursula and her eleven thousand virgins.
2. A woman (esp. a young woman) who is, or remains, in a state of inviolate chastity; an absolutely pure maiden or maid.
In early use chiefly of the Virgin Mary: cf. 4 and 5.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xxx. 83. When y lygge on dethes bed,… On o ledy nyn hope is, moder ant virgyne.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, Prol. 50. Til scho consawit godis sone,… scho beand altyme vergine chaste.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4665. Voide & vacand of vices as virgyns it ware.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 8. Alle clad in white, in tokyn of clennes, Lyke pure virginis as in ther ententis.
c. 1485. E. E. Misc. (Warton Cl.), 36. When he dyssenddyt … Into a chast wombe of a wyrgene clene.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), II. 163. He that revisis ane virgine, bot gif scho desire him in mariage, sal be heidit.
1568. Satir. Poems Reform., xlvii. 58. Remember first ȝour former qualitie, And wrak na virgenis with ȝour wilfull weir.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, I. i. 146. I will stand for’t a little, though therefore I die a Virgin.
1634. W. Tirwhyt, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. I.), 318. Nor am I ignorant that never any woman was so vicious, who hath not heretofore bin a Virgin.
1671. Milton, P. R., I. 138. Then [thou] toldst her doubting how these things could be to her a Virgin, that on her should come The Holy Ghost.
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Antiq., III. xii. § 2. Moses … permitted him [sc. the high-priest] only to marry a virgin.
1807. Med. Jrnl., XVII. 494. Ruysch’s subject, though not a virgin, may have yet been troubled with this complaint.
1845. Day, trans. Simon’s Anim. Chem., I. 230. The venous blood of virgins gave, in 1000 parts [etc.].
fig. 1526. Tindale, 2 Cor. xi. 2. For I coupled you to one man, to make you a chaste virgen to Christ.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 107. God regarded as a virgin, the people whom He had made holy to Himself; He so regards the soul which He has regenerated and sanctified.
b. An old maid, a spinster.
1759. Johnson, Idler, No. 53, ¶ 6. Lady Biddy Porpoise, a lethargick virgin of seventy-six.
c. transf. Of things.
1620. Capt. Smith, New-Eng. Trials, Wks. (Arb.), I. 243. From which blessed Virgin [i.e., the colony of Virginia] … sprung the fortunate habitation of Somer Iles. Ibid. This Virgins sister (called New England, An. 1616, at my humble suite).
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour, France, IV. 303. They give it [sc. Peronne] the name of Virgin, because it was never taken.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci., IV. iii. 292. In the language of the New Platonists, the number seven is said to be a virgin, and without a mother.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 18 Jan., 8/3. Similarly, in Africa, the highest mountain is still a virgin.
d. Virginity. (After 1 Cor. vii. 37.) rare.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemplar Disc., iv. § 12. S. Jerome affirms that, to be continent in the state of widowhood is harder, then to keep our virgin pure.
6. Entom. A female insect producing fertile eggs by parthenogenesis. (Cf. 12 g.)
1883. Imperial Dict. (and in later Dicts.).
3. A young woman, a maid or maiden, of an age and character affording presumption of chastity.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 2689. A wende, a miȝte leue namore, And ȝet him þouȝte, a virgine Him brouȝte out of al is þine.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 330. God … seiþ bi Ioþ þat a man shuld make couenaunt wiþ hise wittis to þenke not on a virgyne.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 37. Whiche commaundede also virgynes to be mariede with owte eny dowery.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 16. Then was scho so meke yn all hor doyngys, þat all othyr vyrgenes called hor qwene of maydens.
1538. Starkey, England, II. i. 151. The wych some schold … be dystrybutyd … partely to the dote of pore damosellys and vyrgynys.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 20. The Harpies haue Virgins faces, and vultures Talentes.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. v. 37. Yong budding Virgin, faire, and fresh, & sweet, Whether away?
1697. Dryden, Æneid, I. 440. She seemed a virgin of the Spartan blood.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 25 May, 1645. Rare pieces, especialy of Guido, Domenico, and a virgin named Isabella Sirani.
1757. Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., Wks. X. 252. Vortigern was struck with the beauty of a Saxon virgin, a kinswoman of Hengist.
1790. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Rowland for Oliver, Ode to Affectation, ii. Say, virgin, where dost thou delight to dwell? With maids of honour, startful virgin?
1806. W. Herbert, Sel. Icel. Poetry, I. 119. Two of the Valkyriæ or virgins of slaughter.
1838. Dickens, Old C. Shop, ix. The beautiful virgin took another pinch [of snuff].
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxiv. 87. A royal virgin, in odours silkily nestled.
b. In allusions to the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matt. xxv. 1–13).
1620. Gataker, Spirituall Watch, 62. Either you are a wise Virgin or a foolish one: if a wise one, the company hath need of you; if an unwise one, you of it.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), I. 182. On the sides of this entrance are seen the five foolish and the five wise virgins, in stone.
1826. Scott, Woodst., ii. Why shouldst thou not talk like one of the wise virgins?
1873. Carleton, Farm Ball., 22. Next mornin’ an ancient virgin took pains to call on us, Her lamp all trimmed and a-burnin’ to kindle another fuss.
4. The Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ. Also, an image or picture representing her.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24977. Conceiud o þe hali gast, born o þe virgine marie.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 21. He is þe sone of þe vergyne marie.
c. 1400. Maundev., Prol. (1839), 1. The seyd blessed and gloriouse Virgine Marie.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVII. v. 697. Also the holy ghoost shewed hym the comynge of the gloryous vyrgyne marye.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay (S.T.S.), 39. Quhen the virgine Maria hard the salutatione of the angel.
1547. Homilies, I. Obedience, iii. And here let vs not forget the blessed virgyn Maries obedience.
1611. Bible, Matt. i. (heading), Christ … was … borne of the Virgin Mary when she was espoused to Ioseph.
1655. Vaughan, Silex Scint., Ded. Jesus Christ, The Son of the living God, and the sacred Virgin Mary.
1717. [see MADONNA 2].
1776. Ld. Hailes, Ann. Scotl., I. 134. He ascribed his deliverance to the Virgin Mary.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., v. He wore his national bonnet,… with a Virgin Mary of massive silver for a brooch.
1885. J. King, Angl. Hymnology, 3. The hymn of Hannah is the prototype of the Virgin Mary’s ‘Magnificat.’
b. attrib., or in possessive, in popular names of plants (see quots.); also (after Gaelic use) Virgin Mary’s nut, the Bonduc or Molucca nut.
1703. M. Martin, Western Islands, 39. If she would but take the White Nut, called the Virgin Maries Nut, and lay it in the Pale into which she was to milk the Cows.
1823. E. Moor, Suffolk Wds., Virgin Mary thistle, the beautiful and magnificent Carduus Benedictus, or Blessed Thistle.
1855. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., III. 230. Milk Thistle…. This very handsome stately plant, the Virgin Mary’s Thistle [etc.].
1869. N. & Q., 4th Ser. III. 414/2. In some parts of Berkshire the spotted persicaria … is known as ‘The Virgin Mary’s pinch,’ from the dark thumb-like mark in the centre of its leaves.
1873. Gard. Chron., 26 April, 579/3. Pulmonaria officinalis.—This plant is known in Cheshire as Virgin Mary’s Honeysuckle.
1880. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., 464. Virgin-Mary’s-cowslip, Pulmonaria officinalis, common Lungwort.
5. The Virgin (also the blessed, holy, etc., Virgin), = sense 4.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 5873. Syn Crist cam of þe vyrgyne, Nyne score ȝer euene, & nyne.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4370. Þis was þat Iohan saw in a vision Of hym þat semed þe virgyn son.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 186. For be that cause the godhede Assembled was to the manhede In the virgine.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 37. God, that of the vyrgyn was borne in bedeleym.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 10 b. Hymselfe sayenge in the gospell, Excepte ye eate the flesshe of the sone of the virgyn [etc.].
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 139. Desyringe almyghtie God and the blessed virgin to fauour his beginninges.
1623. Cockeram, III. Valentineans, a certaine heretiques, who held opinion that our Sauiour receiued not his flesh from the blessed Virgin.
1643. Caryl, Expos. Job, xx. 17. And this is the food which the Virgins son our Immanuel was prophesied to eat.
1704. [see ANNUNCIATION 2].
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), I. 286. The church of the holy virgin at Lireyo.
1797. Coleridge, Christabel, I. 139. Praise we the Virgin all divine Who hath rescued thee from thy distress!
1801. Scott, Eve St. John, xl. ‘Alas! away, away!’ she cried, ‘For the holy Virgin’s sake!’
1867. Jas. Campbell, Balmerino, II. ix. 122. A full length figure of the Virgin and Holy Child standing within a Gothic niche.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., II. xxxiii. 329. Uttering a special prayer to the immaculate Virgin.
b. A picture or image of the Virgin Mary; a madonna.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 23 April 1646. There are two Sacristias, in one of which is a fine Virgin of Leonardo da Vinci.
1823. Galt, R. Gilhaize, ix. My grandfather … seized the Virgin’s timber leg, and flung it with violence at them.
1840. Penny Cycl., XVII. 140/1. A most exquisite Virgin in a tabernacle in the open street at Prato.
1883. Parker’s Guide to Oxford, 87. The niches have been filled with the Virgin and Child [etc.].
6. A person of either sex remaining in a state of chastity. Usually in pl.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24685. He ledis lijf lik til angels, For uirgins all ar þai.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 277. Hou that Adam and Eve also Virgines comen bothe tuo Into the world and were aschamed [etc.].
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 297. When þe Emperour Henrie and Ranegunde his wyfe abade alway clene virgyns.
1451. Capgrave, Life St. Gilbert, xxxi. 107. Fro þat tyme in whech he was take fro þe world, a-non was he set a-mongis þe dauns of virgynes.
7. A youth or man who has remained in a state of chastity.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 8913 (Kölbing). Þis Naciens … bicome prest, messe to sing; Virgine of his bodi he was.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 950. Virginitee baar oure lord Ihesu crist, and virgine was hym selue.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, xxxix. 559. A virgyne evere schal he be alle dayes of his lyve certeinle.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVII. xviii. 715. Thow arte a clene vyrgyn aboue all knyghtes.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VI. ccxiv. 232. This kynge Edwarde lafte after hym no childe, for he was accompted for a virgyn whan he dyed.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xvi. 101. These Calenders … say themselues to be virgins.
1613. J. Hayward, Norm. Kings, 296. It is certaine also that Anselme, the most earnest enforcer of single life, died not a Virgine.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Scarlet Gown, 14. It is held for certain, by them which know him, that he is still a Virgin.
1700. Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 785. He was reputed a Pure Virgin.
1847. trans. Bacci’s Life St. Philip Neri, II. xiii. 253. A famous harlot,… having heard it said that Philip was a virgin,… audaciously boasted that she would cause him to fall.
1880. A. I. Ritchie, Ch. St. Baldred, 49. King Malcolm [IV.] is universally said to have died a virgin.
fig. 1798. Lamb, Rosamund Gray, iv. 498. His temper had a sweet and noble frankness in it, which bespake him yet a virgin from the world.
8. Astr. = VIRGO.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fables, Fox & Wolf, iv. Mercurius, the God of Eloquence, Into the Uirgyn maid his residence.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld., 11. Whan the sonne in tyme of yere begynneth to wythdrawe dounwarde thenne reigneth he in a planete that we call Virgyne.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XLIV. (Percy Soc.), 216. Tyll peace and mercy made right to encline, Out of the Lyon to enter the Vyrgyne.
c. 1550. Rolland, Crt. Venus, Prol. 43. The Virgin, Libra, and the Scorpion.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. i. 11. The Virgin, sixt in her degree.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 676. Thence down amaine By Leo and the Virgin and the Scales, As deep as Capricorne.
1697. Creech, Manilius, II. 70. The Twins, Vrn, Virgin force his Sign to bend By Nature’s Law.
1730–46. Thomson, Autumn, 23. When the bright Virgin gives the beauteous days, And Libra weighs in equal scales the year.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., I. 197. Now, in the southern hemisphere, the sun Thro’ the bright Virgin and the Scales had run.
1868. Lockyer, Guillemin’s Heavens (ed. 3), 326. The Virgin and Boötes are, with the Lion, the most important constellations in view.
9. a. ellipt. Applied to varieties of apple and pear.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort., 80. The Squib-pear, Spindle-pear, Virgin, Gascoigne-Bergamot.
1886. Cheshire Gloss., 378. Virgins, a kind of apple.
b. Ent. Applied to species of moths and butterflies.
1832. J. Rennie, Consp. Butterfl. & M., 49. The Virgin (Triphæna Innuba.) Wings two inches to two inches one-third, of uniform colour. Ibid., 100. The Virgin (Brepha Parthenias) appears the end of March.
10. attrib. and Comb., as virgin-birth, -born adj., -produced adj., -violator, -worship; virgin-bower, = VIRGIN’S BOWER; virgin-stock, the Virginia stock; virgin-tree, Oriental sassafras.
1632. Crashaw, Carmen Deo Nostro, Poems (1904), 271. The *virgin-births with which thy soveraign spouse Made fruitfull thy fair soul.
1864. Pusey, Lect. Daniel, viii. 484. That announcement of the Virgin-birth of Him, of whom it is said, she shall call His Name Emmanuel.
1899. Daily News, 16 Sept., 7/1. I fail to see how those who deny the virgin birth of Our Lord can in any way claim part in the Christian Church.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 500. Then hear, O Son of David, *Virgin-born.
1846. Trench, Mirac., 46. The Virgin-born, the Son of the Most Highest.
1725. Fam. Dict., *Virgin-bower, a Plant of which there are two sorts [etc.].
1810. Scott, Lady of Lake, I. xxvi. The clematis, the favour’d flower which boasts the name of virgin-bower.
1861. N. Syd. Soc. Year-bk. Med. & Surg., 1860, 377. They are altogether equivalent to *virgin-produced ‘zooids.’
1786. Abercrombie, Gard. Assist., 55. Sweet peas, pansies, *virgin-stock.
1891. Cent. Dict., s.v. Stock, The somewhat similar Malcolmia maritima,… in England called Virginia or virgin stock.
1866. Treas. Bot., 1219/1. *Virgin-tree, Sassafras Parthenoxylon.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 41. That Angelo is an adulterous thiefe, An hypocrite, a *virgin violator.
1830. J. Conder, Modern Traveller, XXVII. 141, note. It is scarcely worth while, perhaps, to notice, as peculiarities of the country [Venezuela], the local or provincial legends which are mixed up with the various modifications of the Virgin-worship of the Romish church.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., Introd. p. xviii. I should … have copied the introduction of *Virgin-worship into the original tale.
11. In possessive collocations: virgin’s garland, a garland of flowers and colored paper formerly carried at the funeral of a maiden; † virgin’s honey, -oil, = virgin honey, oil (see 17 b); † Virgin’s sea, = Virginian sea VIRGINIAN a. 1 d; Virgin’s spike (see SPIKE sb.1 1 b); † virgin’s thread (see quot.).
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., *Virgin’s garland, many country churches in the North are adorned with these garlands; in token, says Bourne, of esteem and love, and as an emblem of reward in the heavenly Church.
1828. Craven Gloss., Virgin’s Garlands. Many of the Churches in the Deanery of Craven are adorned with these garlands. [Description follows.]
1879–81. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., 465. Virgins-garlands still exist; as … at Minsterley, where there are several, the most recent of them being of the date 1764.
1611. Cotgr., Miel vierge, *Virgins honie, the honie which of it selfe, and without pressing, distills from the combe.
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Empyema, They mix a quartern of Virgins Honey, with two Paris Pints thereof.
1611. Cotgr., Huile Virginal, *Virgins Oyle; the Oyle that comes from the Oliue of it selfe, and without pressing.
1603. in Shirburn Ballads, lxxvii. 7. His Empyre … Halfe which her beosome foorth doth lay from German to the Virgin’s [v.r. Virginian] sea.
1704. Dict. Rust. (1726), Virgin’s-Thread, a sort of Dew, which flies in the Air, like small untwisted Silk or Yarn, and falling upon the Ground or Plants, changes it self into a form like a Spider’s web.
II. attrib. passing into adj. 12. Of persons (usually of the female sex): Being a virgin or virgins; remaining in a state of chastity.
Virgin Queen, a name for Queen Elizabeth of England.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Jer. xiv. 17. For ye virgine daughter of my people is destroyed … with a sore grieuous plague.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. iii. 13. Pardon, goddesse of the night, Those that slew thy virgin knight [sc. Hero].
1611. Speed, Theat. Gt. Britain, I. xi. 21/1. Ursula,… with her companie of canonized Virgin-Saints.
1633. Ford, Broken Heart, Prol. The virgin-sisters then deserv’d fresh bays. Ibid., III. v. To virgin-wives, such as abuse not wedlock By freedom of desires.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., VI. xxv. Hail, blessed Virgin-Spouse, who didst bequeath Breath unto him, who made thee breathe!
1697. Dryden, Æneid, XI. 754. The Volscians, and their virgin leader, wait His last commands.
a. 1718. Parnell, Hesiod, 34. In such a shape … As virgin-goddesses are proud to wear.
1738. trans. Guazzo’s Art Conversation, 45. I am, with Respect to any concern with Women, as true a Virgin-man as I came from my Mother’s womb.
1786. Polwhele, trans. Idyllia of Theocritus, etc. (1792), II. 38. And still the Arabian maids have their hair inwreathed with hyacinths, like the virgin companions of Helen.
1827. Pollok, Course T., X. Stars, the virgin daughters of the sky.
1834. L. Ritchie, Wand. by Seine, 40. The virgin-martyr St. Honoria.
b. In predicative use. Also fig., and const. of and to. rare.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 396. Likest she seemd … to Ceres in her Prime, Yet Virgin of Proserpina from Jove.
1849–50. Alison, Hist. Europe, XIV. xcvi. § 21. 218. Germany, alike virgin to revolutionary passions, and unused to revolutionary suffering, has had a firebrand tossed into its bosom.
1859. Tennyson, Guinevere, 553. Yet not less, O Guinevere, For I was ever virgin save for thee.
c. The Virgin Mother, the Virgin Mary.
[a. 1711. Ken, Sion, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 321. His Virgin-Mother had Angelick Grace.]
1720. Welton, Suffer. Son of God, I. x. 242. The Humble Deference of the sacred Virgin-Mother in Regard to Him, who was her Son, and her God too.
1817. Scott, Monks of Bangor’s March, ii. On the long procession goes…. And the Virgin-mother mild In their peaceful banner smiled.
1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. i. 11. I … would fain enlist every holy saint in the calendar, and implore the virgin mother herself.
1860. Tennyson, Sea Dreams, 234. The Virgin Mother standing with her child High up on one of those dark minster-fronts.
d. Virgin widow, a widow who has been deprived of her husband before the consummation of the marriage.
a. 1644. Quarles (title), The Virgin Widow. A Comedie.
1700. Dryden, Pal. & Arc., III. 927. A Virgin-Widow and a Mourning Bride.
1882. Stevenson, Men & Bks., 243. When he was no more than thirteen, his father had him affianced to Isabella, virgin-widow of our Richard II.
1887. J. Gairdner, in Dict. Nat. Biog. IX. 291/1. On 2 April [1502] … he [Prince Arthur] died at Ludlow, and Catherine was left a virgin widow.
e. transf. (See quots.)
1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), 663. Seven, the old Magi called a Virgin Number, supposing the Force thereof great, as a Virgin in her full strength.
1725. Fam. Dict., Virgin-Vine, a Plant reckon’d by many among the sorts of Snake-Weed…. ’Tis call’d the Virgin-Vine, because, if it may be so said, it is a Maid, and has hitherto brought forth nothing.
1849. Owen, Parthenogenesis, 76. The development of an Aphis in the body of a virgin parent.
1888. F. R. Cheshire, Bees & Bee-Keeping, II. 330. The cage may be used in introducing both laying and virgin queens.
f. Of a fortress, city, etc.: That has never been taken or subdued.
1780. Burke, Œcon. Reform., Wks. III. 240. That household, which has been the stronghold of prodigality, the virgin fortress which was never before attacked.
1856. N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 103. She stands and grows and thrives, a virgin land for now eight hundred years.
1868. Chambers’s Encycl., X. 186/1. Widdin … is called by the Turks the Virgin Fort, from its never having been taken.
1873. Tristram, Moab, v. 78. Ibrahim … was never able to take Kerak, whose proud boast is that it yet remains a virgin city.
g. Virgin generation, procreation, or (re)production, parthenogenesis.
1849. Owen, Parthenogenesis, 28. The structures … which Reaumur … cited in order to solve the problem of the alleged virgin procreation.
1859. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., V. 37/2. Professor Owen has given the name of Parthenogenesis, or Virgin-production, to this mode of generation.
1881. Encycl. Brit., XII. 574/2. While … Hymenoptera reproduce by the union of the two sexes, yet parthenogenesis or virgin reproduction is of not uncommon occurrence.
13. Composed or consisting of virgins.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LXVIII. iv. Taught by thee, in this tryumphant song, A virgin army did their voices try.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 56. Yong Alcides, when he did redeeme The virgine tribute, paied … To the Sea-monster.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 290. The Graces Adorn our Parks and Malls Crowned with Virgin-Garlands.
a. 1711. Ken, Psyche, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 306. Psyche then left the lovely virgin-choir.
1820. Keats, To Psyche, 30. Though temple thou hast none,… Nor virgin-choir.
1857. Emerson, Poems, 13. The lover watched his graceful maid, As mid the virgin train she strayed.
1885–94. R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, April 22. And next the virgin tribe in white forth sail’d.
14. Of or pertaining to a virgin; appropriate to, or characteristic of, virgins: a. Of parts of the body, articles of dress, etc.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 816. Come challenge me,… And, by this Virgin palme, now kissing thine, I will be thine. Ibid. (1608), Per., IV. ii. 160. Untied I still my virgin knot will keep.
1616. Drumm. of Hawth., Madrigals, xlv. This virgine Lock of Haire To Idmon Anthea giues.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., Pref. The Midwives do the Virgin Zone cashere.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. Introd. Lines 182. Come see her in her Virgin Face, and learn Twixt Idle ones, and Pilgrims to discern.
1725. Pope, Odyss., IV. 1050. Iphthima the fair,… whose blooming charms Allured Eumelus to her virgin-arms.
1807–8. Wordsw., Eccl. Sonn., II. xxv. Mother! whose virgin bosom was uncrost With the least shade of thought to sin allied.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., III. v. Yet ne’er again to braid her hair The virgin snood did Alice wear.
1819. S. Rogers, Hum. Life, Poems (1839), 10. Moves in her virgin-veil the gentle bride.
1846. Prowett, Prometheus Bound, 31. Thou favoured maiden, Why in thy virgin-zone still braced?
fig. 1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, xxxix. Whenever you found him he seemed watchful and serene, his modest virgin-lamp always lighted and trim.
b. Of qualities, feelings, etc.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xvii. (1622), 165. Though the purenesse of my virgin-mind be stained, let me keepe the true simplicity of my word.
1611. Second Maiden’s Trag., III. i., in Hazl., Dodsley, X. 433. Hast thou … overcome Thy honour’s en’mies with thine own white hand, Where virgin-victory sits.
1633. Ford, Broken H., II. iii. The virgin-dowry which my birth bestow’d Is ravish’d by another.
1651. Hobbes, Govt. & Soc., xviii. § 14. 362. Hither also in some respect tends the Virgin-life of Ecclesiasticall Persons.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 270. To whom the Virgin Majestie of Eve … With sweet austeer composure thus reply’d.
1713. Addison, Cato, I. vi. Lucia. Was ever virgin love distress’d like mine!
1720. Welton, Suffer. Son of God, I. iv. 67. Without the least Injury to her Virgin-Purity.
1757. Gray, Bard, 118. Her … face Attemper’d sweet to virgin-grace.
1762. Goldsm., Cit. W., I. lxxxviii. A lady in the virgin bloom of sixty-three.
1808. Helen St. Victor, Ruins of Rigonda, I. 55. These … are mere virgin scruples.
1839. De Quincey, Recoll. Lakes, Wks. 1862, II. 201. The honourable election of a self-dependent virgin seclusion, by preference to a heartless marriage.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, ii. The picture of youth, unprotected innocence, and humble virgin simplicity.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, ii. We must not disturb her virgin thoughts with a question of marriage.
15. Comparable to a virgin in respect of purity or freedom from stain; pure, unstained, unsullied. In early use in fig. context.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 426. We leuen on marye … Þat ber a barne of vyrgyn flour.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 20. With blessyd Seynt Cuthburge, þat virgyn flour.
1596. Spenser, Prothalamion, 32. The virgin Lillie, and the Primrose trew.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. vii. 23. What saies the Siluer, with her virgin hue? Ibid. (1610), Temp., IV. 55. The white cold virgin Snow vpon my heart.
1633. Ford, Broken H., V. i. The virgin-bays shall not withstand the lightning With a more careless danger, than my constancy The full of thy relation.
1647. Milton, Reform., I. Wks. 1851, III. 19. These that must be call’d the ancientest, and most virgin times between Christ and Constantine.
1655. Vaughan, Silex Scint., I. Search, 70. What shades, and cells, Faire virgin-flowers, and hallow’d Wells I should rove in.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, I. xxvi. 9. Sweet Muse, who lov’st the virgin Spring, Hither thy sunny Flowrets bring.
1819. S. Rogers, Hum. Life, Poems (1839), 14. A funeral garland hung Of virgin-white.
1818. Keats, Endym., II. 113. My veined pebble-floor, that draws A virgin light to the deep.
1839. De Quincey, Recoll. Lakes, Wks. 1862, II. 23. A glittering expanse of virgin snow.
1861. Thackeray, Four Georges, iv. 225. To lead a pure life, to keep your honour virgin.
1885. R. Buchanan, Annan Water, iii. The garden was covered with a sheet of virgin white.
b. Not yet touched, handled, or employed for any purpose; still undisturbed or unused; perfectly fresh or new.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 70. The Rose … which withering on the virgin thorne … dies in single blessednesse.
1638. Drumm. of Hawth., Exequies A. Alexander, 66. How oft have we Some Chloris Name graven in each Virgin tree?
1785. Crabbe, Newspaper, 29. Unbought, unbless’d, the virgin copies wait In vain for fame.
1799. Wordsworth, Nutting, 21. The hazels rose Tall and erect, with tempting clusters hung, A virgin scene.
1823. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit., Ser. II. I. 415. I propose to give what … may be called the Philosophy of Proverbs—a topic which seems virgin.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, II. xii. 108. A … Samian, named Colæus, reached Tartessus, and found, as Herodotus says, a virgin mart.
1867. F. Francis, Angling, ix. (1880), 307. Salmon … hatched in perfectly virgin waters.
1882. Floyer, Unexpl. Balūchistan, 176. It was at least a virgin country which … had never yet been entered by white man.
1879. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 258. The ravages of Small-pox in a virgin race.
c. Perfectly free or clear of something.
1889. Harper’s Mag., May, 878/2. The Sierra Madres in Mexico are still virgin of sportsmen and skin-hunters.
16. Employed for the first time.
1627. Drayton, Agincourt, etc., 87. When th’ Earle of March … His Virgine valour on that day bestowes.
1725. Pope, Odyss., I. 389. His virgin sword Ægysthus’ veins imbru’d.
1760. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, I. ix. But [it] is honestly a true Virgin-Dedication untried on, upon any soul living.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), II. 16. As on the day that saw him wield His virgin sword in battle field.
b. Forming a first essay or attempt; coming at the beginning or outset.
1627. E. F., Hist. Edw. II. (1680), 8. The first Virgin-works of his greatness.
a. 1628. F. Greville, Sidney (1652), 225. Her Virgin-triumph over that … invincible Navy.
1652. N. Culverwel, Treat., I. xi. (1661), 76. Instincts … the first-born faculties … that are presently, espoused to their Virgin-objects.
1708. Ozell, trans. Boileau’s Lutrin, 121. A Youth … entring the Lists, his Virgin-Motion makes.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., To Sir W. Phillips, 10 June. Tim Cropdale … had happily wound up the Catastrophe of a virgin-Tragedy, from the Exhibition of which [etc.].
1857. Heavysege, Saul (1869), 27. Now quit thee well on this thy virgin field.
1873. Hamerton, Intell. Life, V. iii. 191. That interest you preserve in all its virgin force, and this force carries a man far.
1891. Daily News, 21 Feb., 3/2. That any measure dealing with … the House of Lords could only be undertaken by the virgin energy of the session.
17. Special collocations: a. Virgin earth, soil, etc., soil that has not hitherto been brought into cultivation, and retains all its natural power of producing vegetation. Virgin forest, a forest of natural growth as yet untouched by man. Virgin rock, etc., native rock not yet cut into or quarried.
1709. T. Robinson, in Vind. Mosaick System, 103. A small Parcel of *Virgin-Clay, digged some Fathoms under Ground.
1652. French, Yorksh. Spa, ii. 13. Helmonts sabulum or *virgin-earth, which he saith is a certain sand continued from the Center of the earth in divers places, even to the superficies of the same.
1692. Boyle, Hist. Air, 44. Hoping to find in the salt of what he supposed to be Virgin-earth, the true receptacle of an universal spirit.
1744. Berkeley, Siris, § 141. Virgin earth becomes fertile, crops of new plants ever and anon shew themselves.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 280. Hence the astonishing fertility of all new soil, or what is called virgin earth.
1812. New Botanic Gard., I. 64. A third part of fresh virgin earth, from a pasture ground.
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 69. *Virgin field, a mineral field untouched or solid.
1843. J. F. Cooper, Wyandotté, I. iii. 58. There is a pleasure in diving into a *virgin forest, and commencing the labours of civilization, that has no exact parallel in any other human occupation.
1851. G. F. Richardson, Geol. (1855), 443. A virgin forest of the Isle of Gouahan, one of the Mariana Islands.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem. (1814), 358. Strawberries and potatoes at first produce luxuriantly in *Virgin Mould, recently turned up from pasture.
1877. J. Northcote, Catacombs, I. i. 10. They choose rather to excavate in their own fashion in the *virgin rock below.
1766. Public Advertiser, 23 June, 2/2. Workmen at Blackfryars Bridge have been obliged to remove this made Soil…, before they could get the *Virgin Soil, which is on a Level with the other Piers of that Bridge.
1837. H. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 106. The slave population … is killed off … on the virgin soils to which alone it is, in any degree, appropriate.
1857. Livingstone, Trav., xix. 372. Virgin soil does not give such a heavy crop as an old garden.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., III. lxxvi. 6. No event, no speech or article, ever falls upon a perfectly virgin soil.
1868. Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869), 18. It [sc. present practice] will doubtless continue in vogue till our *virgin wheat lands are run over by pioneers.
b. In special names of various substances (usually denoting one in a pure unmixed state or obtained as a first product), as virgin barm, breccia, comb, copper, dip, gold, etc. (see quots.).
1893. R. Wells, Mod. Pract. Bread Baker, 10. *Virgin barm, or bastard barm, as it is sometimes called, is made in somewhat the same way as Parisian barm.
1839. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., II. 454/1. Seme Santo, or *Virgin Breccia. Very small red, chocolate,… white and yellowish angulous fragments.
1895. Cent. Dict., *Virgin clay, in industrial arts,… clay that has never been molded or fired, as distinguished from the ground substance of old ware, which is often mixed with it.
1639. G. Daniel, Ecclus. xxiv. 65. My Memory Is pleasant as the Honey, and my ffee Is sweeter then *Virgin-Combes.
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., cxlv. With glewy wax some new Foundations lay Of Virgin-combs, which from the Roof are hung.
1867. Tomlinson’s Cycl. Arts, App. 693/2. Some virgin comb that had never seen the light was placed in clean linen.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., *Virgin Copper, is that which has never been melted down.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 167. Remarkable for the abundance of virgin copper.
1725. Fam. Dict., *Virgin-Cream, a Dish for which having the Whites of five Eggs, let them be well whip’d and put into a Pan, with Sugar [etc.].
1856. Olmsted, Slave States, 343. The flow of the first year … is of higher value than the ordinary dip. It is called *‘virgin dip.’
1884. C. S. Sargent, Rep. Forests N. Amer., 517. ‘Virgin dip,’ or ‘Soft white gum turpentine’—the product of the first year the trees are worked.
1673. E. Browne, Acc. Trav. Hungary, etc., 99. There have been pieces of pure or *virgin Gold found in this Mine.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Gold, Virgin Gold, is Gold, just as it is taken out of the Mines before it have undergone any Action, or Preparation of Fire.
1777. Robertson, Hist. Amer., VII. (1778), II. 343. A late governor of Sante Fé brought with him to Spain a lump of virgin gold.
1837. Lockhart, Scott (1839), IV. 141. Sir John Malcolm had given him some Indian coins to supply virgin gold for the setting of this relic.
1733. Tull, Horse-Hoeing Husb., xiv. 182. This came out of the Ricks at Winter with a much finer Colour, and as fine a smell as the *Virgin-Hay.
a. 1648. Digby, Closet Opened (1677), 4. It is of three sorts, *Virgin-honey, Live-honey, and Stock-honey.
1679. M. Rusden, Further Discov. Bees, 64. The ignorance of many Country people not knowing which is right Virgin-Hony, and which is not.
1707. Mortimer, Husb. (1721), I. 283. The Honey which first flows of it self from the Combs is called Virgin Honey (as is also the Honey which comes from the first Years Swarm).
1772. Fletcher, Appeal, Wks. 1795, I. 204, note. Some poor hungry hearts will say, ‘One thing is needful for us. We cannot have too much virgin-honey.’
1867. Tomlinson’s Cycl. Arts, App. 695/1. Any experiments on this subject must be with virgin honey, or that drained from the new comb.
a. 1728. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Fossils, I. (1729), I. 297. Lead-Grains so pure as nearly to approach the Fineness of *Virgin Lead.
1669. Phil. Trans., IV. 1080. *Virgin-Mercury they call that, which discovers itself without the help of fire.
1757. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 144. Virgin mercury … is that which is entirely prepared by nature.
1668. Phil. Trans., III. 821. Yet sometimes there are great Masses found all of pure Silver, which is call’d *Virgin-mettal.
1740. Somerville, Hobbinol, I. 202. With his Plant Of toughest *Virgin Oak in rising [he] aids His trembling Limbs.
1719. Boyer, Dict. Royal, I. De l’huile vierge,… sweet, or pure Oyl, *Virgin Oyl.
1775. Virginia Gaz., 1 Feb., 1/1. The lamp of liberty shall still burn with purified oil, like unto that which ran down Aaron’s beard, not made of blubber, but pure virgin oil.
1853. Ure, Dict. Arts, II. 284. In the district Montpellier, they apply the term virgin oil to that which spontaneously separates from the paste of crushed olives.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., 359. The ripe olives are first subjected to pressure without the application of heat; in this manner the finest oil, or virgin oil, is obtained.
1758. Borlase, Nat. Hist. Cornw., 199. The most perfect copper … is the Malleable (from its purity called in Cornwall the *Virgin-ore).
1821. Byron, Sardanap., IV. i. The miner lights Upon a vein of virgin ore.
1611. Cotgr., Parchemin verri, Cleere Parchment, *virgine Parchment.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Virgin Parchment, a sort of fine Parchment made of the Skin of a young Lamb.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xiii. It was fastened round his middle by a broad belt of virgin parchment.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 897. The best [olive oil], called *virgin salad oil, is obtained by gentle pressure in the cold.
1888. Buck’s Handbk. Med. Sci., VI. 297/1. In this way the bubbles and sour odor are developed, and what is known as *‘Virgin Scammony’ is produced.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 167. 1300 dollars weight in ingots of *virgin silver.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. xi. II. I. 182. Silver is very seldom found Virgin.
1806. Forsyth, Beauties Scotl., IV. 10. It had the appearance of metallic, malleable, or what is called, virgin silver.
1873. E. Spon, Workshop Receipts, Ser. I. 238/2. The silver found in the trade, even under the name of virgin silver, retains traces of copper.
1833. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. 39. Run, or *virgin steel:—which, indeed, in the proper sense of the term, is no steel at all, but rather good cast metal.
1668. Charleton, Onomast., 235. Sulphur Virgineum.… *Virgin Sulphur.
1672. Compl. Gunner, xv. 16. This is called Sulphur Vivum, and by some Virgin Sulphur.
1752. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Sulphur, Sulphur vivum, native or virgin sulphur, is that which is dug in this form out of the earth.
1706. Art of Painting (1744), 283. On this they laid their *virgin tints, with light strokes of the pencil.
1753. Hogarth, Anal. Beauty, xiv. 190. Let us then … call class 4 of each colour ‘bloom-tints,’ or, if you please, ‘virgin tints,’ as the painters call them.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 430. Take the first, or *virgin wine, which runs of itself from the grapes.
18. Comb., as virgin-eyed, -minded, -vested adjs.
1848. B. D. Walsh, Aristoph., 365, note. Jove’s virgin-eyed daughter.
1867. Earl Lytton, Lett. (1906), I. 224. There exisis nowhere … a more virgin-minded community of young men.
1871. Swinburne, Songs bef. Sunrise, Quia Multum Amavit, 18. Thou wast fairest and first of my virgin-vested daughters.
Hence Virgin v. a. intr. with it. To remain a virgin. b. trans. To speak of, mention (virgins).
1607. Shaks., Cor., V. iii. 48. That kisse I carried from the deare; and my true Lippe Hath Virgin’d it ere since.
1625. Massinger, New Way, III. ii. Marg. You’ll have me, sir, preserve the distance that Confines a virgin? Over. Virgin me no virgins! I must have you lose that name, or you lose me.
