Forms: 4–5 virgynyte, 6 -ite; 4–6 vyrgynyte, 5 -enyte, 6 -inite; 4–6 virginite (-itee, 4 wirginite, 5 Sc. verginite), 5 -yte, 5–7 -itie, 6– virginity. [a. AF. and OF. virginite (mod.F. virginité, = It. verginità, virginità, Sp. virginidad, Pg. -idade), ad. L. virginitāt-, virginitas, f. virgin-, stem of virgo: see VIRGIN sb. and -ITY.]
1. The condition of being or remaining in a state of chastity; abstinence from or avoidance of all sexual relations; bodily chastity, as a virtue of great commendation, or as conferring especial merit or sanctity; the mode of life characterized by this, esp. as adopted from religious motives.
a. Of persons of either sex (or without special limitation of sex).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24681. Man or womman, queþer it be, þat liues in wirginite, Quat fanding þat þar fele.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 203. Wedloke and widwehode with virgynyte ynempned, In toknynge of þe Trinite was taken oute of o man.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 62. When sawe ye in eny maner age That highe God defendid mariage By expres word?… Or wher commaunded he virginite?
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 83. Well may virginite be compared to a floure. Nothynge is more fayre, more beautefull, ne more pleasaunt than is virginite.
1547–64. Bauldwin, Mor. Philos. (Palfr.), VII. vii. The first degree of chastity is pure virginity, and the second faithfull matrimony.
1570. Ascham, Scholem. (Arb.), I. 85. Commonlie they cum home, common contemners of mariage…: not because they loue virginitie, nor yet because they hate prettie yong virgines, but [etc.].
1651. Cartwright, Cert. Relig., I. 174. Origen … saith that such as live in virginity, doe not that which is commanded, but above what is due.
a. 1711. Ken, Psyche, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 256. Virginity’s a Heav’nly tender Grace, Connatural to the angelick Race.
1837. Hallam, Hist. Lit., I. vi. § 7. The faculty of theology at Paris, censured the Colloquies for slighting the fasts of the church, virginity, monkery, pilgrimages, and other established parts of the religious system.
1840. Newman, Par. Serm., V. vii. 103. Therefore marriage was in repute, and virginity in disesteem.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), IV. xix. 422. An exaggerated reverence for virginity had been growing up in the Church from the beginning.
b. Of men (esp. ecclesiastics or other religious persons).
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxvi. (Baptist), 14. Angele als callit wes he [John the Baptist], fore kepyng of verginite.
1382. Wyclif, John, Prol. Double witnesse of virginyte is ȝouun to hym … in this that he is seid loued of God byfor othere disciplis.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, I. (Bodl. MS.), 58/2. He lyued euer in virgynyte.
1456. Coventry Leet Bk., 288. John Enaungelist. Holy Edward, crownyd kyng, brothur in virginyte.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xvi. 101. Hee that wil enter into this religion must … obserue … virginitie and abstinence.
1615. Bedwell, Moham. Impost., II. § 68. By this perfection, that is, by virginitie, it is knowne that he was of God accepted for his perfection.
1657. Farindon, Serm. (1672), II. 1191. Some have placed Perfection in Virginity,… making themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven; and have laid an imputation upon the state of Matrimony as most imperfect.
1658. Bromhall, Treat. Specters, V. 307. [He] defended the married Priests against the Monks, which observed the vow of Virginity.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1877), II. App. 538. The resolution of Eadward … to devote himself to a life of perpetual virginity.
1884. Cath. Dict., 556/2. Catholic feeling … has attached itself strongly to the virginity of St. Joseph.
c. Of women. Also in phrases flower, gem, etc., of virginity, chiefly with reference to the Virgin Mary.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 948. The thridde manere of chastitee is virginitee, and it behoueth þat she be hooly in herte and clene of body, thanne is she spouse of Ihesu crist and she is the lyf of Angeles.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 336. And thus cam this Calistona Into the wode of Tegea, Wher sche virginite behihte Unto Diane.
c. 1410. Hoccleve, Mother of God, 65. Wel oghten we thee worsshipe & honure, Paleys of Cryst, flour of virginitee.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VI. 91. Seynte Etheldreda,… whiche contynuede in virginite thauȝhe sche was mariede twyes.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys, Introd. (Roxb.), 6. Whan I gan inwardly to remembre … Of hyr that is gemme of virgynyte.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxxvi. 17. Roiss Mary,… O chast conclaif of clene virginite, That closit Crist but crymes criminale.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom., I. vi. (1541), 15 b. Virginite was euer an holy thinge euen amonge theues, breakers of Sayntuary, vngratious liuers [etc.].
1603. Dekker, Patient Grissill, 816. Master Farneze, sweet virginitie is that inuisible Godhead, that turns vs into Angells, that makes vs saints on earth, and starres in heauen.
1634. Milton, Comus, 738. List Lady,… be not cosen’d With that same vaunted name Virginity.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 164, ¶ 5. That Vow of Virginity in which she [a novice] was going to engage herself.
1911. Edin. Rev., July, 62. Jacqueline aspired to the veil, dedicated herself to virginity and the spiritual life.
d. Personified.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. iv. 60. This noble lady was suster to Aungels and was cleped vyrgynyte.
c. 1420. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 842. Many pety capteyns aftyr these went, As … Clennesse, Continence, and Virginite.
2. The state or condition of a virgin or chaste woman; chastity, as the natural or normal condition of an unmarried woman; maidenhood. Also, a condition affording presumption of chastity; spinsterhood.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 2875. Graunte me two moneþes ar y dye, Þat y may wepe my virginite.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1071. By how comly a kest he was clos þere, When venkkyst was no vergynyte, ne vyolence maked.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 18560. For me is leuere in my contre Be sclayn in my virginite, That I falle not in ȝoure handis, Þan go with ȝow.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., III. 130. Þat scho mycht murnand be Twa moneth hir virginite.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxxiv. 13. Evin so women wairis thair virginitie On thame that maist ar holdin onworthie.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., I. i. 298. I denie her Virginitie: I was taken with a Maide.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 20. The [Malagasy] youth scarce knowing twelue, the maid ten yeares in the World, the title of Virginity.
1709. Addison, Tatler, No. 102, ¶ 1. Some pleaded their unspotted Virginity; others their numerous issue.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 39, ¶ 5. The reproach and solitude of antiquated virginity.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), II. 543. They dispense premiums on virginity!
1825. Scott, Lett., 24 Aug., in Lockhart. The celebrated ‘Ladies’ … who … selected this charming spot for the repose of their time-honoured virginity.
1884. Cath. Dict., 556/2. Mary, then, was the Virgin Mother of God. She remained in perpetual virginity.
b. Freq. in phrases, esp. with possessives, as to ravish, rob, etc. (a woman’s) virginity; to keep, lose, etc. (one’s) virginity; sometimes with approximation to a concrete sense.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 316. Thus this tirant there Beraft hire such thing as men sein Mai neveremor be yolde ayein, And that was the virginite. Ibid., 339. To robbe the virginite Of a yong innocent aweie.
1402[?]. Quixley, Ballade, xii. in Yorksh. Archæol. Jrnl. (1908), XX. 46. This Tereus kyng, The virginite rauysht by treson Of Philomene.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., ix. 23. (Harl MS.), Whan he was ded, þer come a knyȝt, and spoiled me of my virginite.
1485. Caxton, St. Wenefr., 9. She chase leuer the smytynge of of her hede than to lose her vyrgynyte.
1563–83. Foxe, A. & M., 94/2. Her heare hanging about her shoulders in two parts deuided (wherewith her shamefast chastitie and virginitie was couered).
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 49. If you … Haue vanquisht the resistance of her youth, And made defeat of her virginitie.
1622. Rowlands, Good Newes & Bad N., 2. Since Nans Virginity past help is lost, They’l teach him what a maidenhead will cost.
c. 1706. Prior, True Maid, 1. For my Virginity, When I lose that, says Rose, I’ll dye.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., That the next Relation … of the Maid’s, shall undertake to enjoy her before him, and take away her Virginity.
1759. A. Butler, Lives Saints (1821), X. 489. These holy martyrs seem … to have met a glorious death in defence of their virginity from the army of the Huns.
1866. B. Taylor, On Leaving California, Poems 272. Mother of mighty men, thou shalt not mourn Thy lost virginity.
fig. 1652. Crashaw, Carmen Deo Nostro, 3rd Elegy, 6. O had he nere been at that cruell cost Nature’s virginity had nere been lost.
† c. With a or pl. Obs.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, V. xv. 367. Some were appoynted to serve the Guacas and Sanctuaries, keeping their virginities for ever.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IV. 157. The men … and the Virgines … both shall haue their Virginities renewed, as fast, as lost.
1634. W. Tirwhyt, trans. Balzac’s Lett., 269. Nor was ever any virginity so britle, as that she brought into the world.
d. Used as a title: A virgin or unmarried woman. rare–1.
1755. Mrs. F. Brooke, Old Maid, No. 9. 64. You must know then, my good sister virginity, that [etc.].
3. fig. The state of being virgin, fresh or new.
1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict., II. lix. See, see the flowers that … blowe, And of all, the virgin rose,… How they all unleaved die, Loosing their virginitie.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, xix. (1647), 31. Cana the less…, where he shewed the virginity of his miracles, turning water into wine.
1692. South, Serm. (1744), XI. 8. As the purest water…, when it slides into a dirty and a muddy Kennel, it immediately loses its clearness and virginity.
18[?]. Whittier, Pr. Wks. (1889), II. 187. What avail your abstract theories, your hopeless virginity of democracy, sacred from the violence of meanings?
1896. Daily News, 14 Feb., 5/4. Pretty well for what Lord Rosebery would call the virginity of the Session.
1915. J. Kelman, Salted with Fire, ix. 121. Men’s prejudices … had destroyed what Ruskin calls the virginity of the eye, and it was the main endeavour of Jesus to restore it.
Hence Virginityship, spinsterhood.
1741. Mrs. Montagu, Lett., I. 299. Old Virginityship is certainly Milton’s Hell ‘Where hope ne’er comes that comes to all.’
