Forms: 5– virginal (5 -alle, -el, -ele), 6–7 virginall (6 -eall); 5 virgynal, 5–6 -all, 6 vyrginall; 5 vyrgynal, 5–6 -all. [a. OF. (also mod.F.) virginal (= Sp. and Pg. virginal, It. virginale), or ad. L. virginālis, f. virgin-, virgo: see VIRGIN sb. and -AL.]
1. Of or pertaining to a virgin or to virginity.
14[?]. in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 129. For of hur wombe the cloysture vyrgynall Euer was lyke bothe fyrst and last Closed and schytt as castell principall.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., V. 1314. He hath stodied with al herte and meende Thi virgynal body to destroye and shende.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 2973. In the vyrgynall wombe of blessed marye.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 170. The Virginall bowels of his vndefiled mother.
1592. R. D., Hypnerotomachia, 78. This honourable Nymph had her virgineall … body covered with a … stuffe of greene silke.
1612. Field, Woman’s a Weathercock, III. ii., in Hazl., Dodsley, II. 53. And thy Bellafront presents herself, Lav’d in a bath of contrite virginal tears.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, 395. The load was too great, and did sink thy tender and virginal body to the earth.
1721. R. Keith, trans. T. à Kempis, Solil. Soul, xxii. 294. Thanks also be to holy Mary thy Mother, from whose virginal Flesh thou didst take the holy Members of thy Body.
1846. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. I. 537/1. Can the calmest face,… or can the most virginal apron, do away with or cover this?
1854. Cdl. Wiseman, Fabiola (1855), 201. One … whose brides never put off their virginal wreaths.
1878. H. M. Stanley, Dark Cont., I. xv. 400. They are all comely and brown, with fine virginal bosoms.
b. Virginal generation, parthenogenesis.
1879. trans. Haeckel’s Evol. Man, I. ii. 28. The so-called parthenogenesis, or virginal generation, of Bees.
2. Of qualities, actions, etc.: Proper to, characteristic of, a virgin.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 3584. O humble maide! who is it þat can The debonaire humblesse tellen al, Restynge in þy clennesse virginal?
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 195 b/1. There ben twelue vertues vyrgynal … wyth out whiche no vyrgyne may be agreeable to god.
1493. Petronilla, 58 (Pynson). She fulfylled his byddynge in certeyn Withoute grutchinge of virgynall mekenesse.
a. 1529. Skelton, Replyc., 32. Whiche is the most clere christall Of all pure clennesse virgynall.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 20. Gentle court and gracious delight She to them made, with mildnesse virginall.
1608. Shaks., Per., IV. vi. 62. Without any more virginal fencing, will you use him kindly?
1627. Donne, Serm., Wks. 1839, V. 613. Where is that Soul?… Is it come back in the virginal integrity in which I made it?
1640. Bp. Hall, Christian Moderation, I. § 8. 76. Virginall chastity is a grace worthy of our fervent prayers, worthy of our best endeavors.
1850. Kingsley, A. Locke, i. No foundlings educated in a nunnery ever grew up in a more virginal and spotless innocence.
1873. Doran, Lady of Last Cent., iii. 73. There is something nauseous in the affected playfulness of the aged lovers, and also in the equally affected virginal coyness with which Mrs. Montagu received, encouraged, or put aside their rather audacious gallantry.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxx. That beautiful mixture of manly courage and virginal modesty.
transf. 1862. S. Lucas, Secularia, 133. Many … were privileged to behold the West in all its virginal freshness and splendour.
1868. J. H. Newman, Verses Var. Occas., 271. He lifts his hands, there issues forth A fragrance virginal and rare.
3. Of persons: Continuing in a state of virginity; having the chastity or purity of a virgin.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 99 b/2. The vyrgynal companye of thynnocentes.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxxv. 79. Bricht ball cristall, ross virginall…. Aue Maria.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., I. xxvii. 19. Most virgynall flour, of al most excellent.
1546. Bale, Eng. Votaries, I. (1550), 5. Ye shall easely perceyve by their actes, that these virginall votaries hath bene the verye Angels of darkenessse.
1567. Abp. Parker, Corr. (Parker Soc.), 304. I would it were indifferently credited to understand, whether the married sort or the virginal pastors had done most spoil to the church.
1867. E. F. Bowden, Fathers of Desert, 267. O Virginal Mother, arouse my soul to penance and guide me to the way of salvation.
1886. W. Alexander, St. Aug. Holiday, 14. Such virgin gifts for spirits virginal.
1905. G. Thorne, Lost Cause, xii. She was pure but not virginal in temperament.
4. transf. Fresh, pure, unsullied, untouched.
a. 1659. Osborn, Observ. Turks, Wks. (1673), 344. Learning … resembling dead Honey, which is stale, coorse, and less useful, none being pure and Virginal, but what is sucked from every Flower that may be found in the wild Field of a general Commerce.
[1767. A. Campbell, Lexiph., 1. A novel exhibition which is purely virginal.]
1811. W. R. Spencer, Poems, 152. Shall the earth, ’mid the roses of June, May’s virginal violets scorn?
1866. M. Arnold, Empedocles, I. ii. The grass is cool, the seaside air Buoyant and fresh, the mountain flowers More virginal and sweet than ours.
1889. Jos. Thomson, Trav. Morocco, 24. From no point of view … does Tangier look so beautiful and virginal … as from this particular gateway.
