virginalis Latin · revision 36672

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la virgō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [wɪr.ɡɪˈnaː.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [vir.d͡ʒiˈnaː.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''virginālis''' (neuter virgināle); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|virgō|-ālis|t1=girl, maiden]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) The origin of [[m|la|virgō]] is unclear: Walde and Hofmann see it as an individuation of [[m|la|virga|t=twig, rod]], while de Vaan rejects Ledo-Lemos' compound meaning “young woman” as unacceptable in form and sense.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It occurs from Plautus on.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) In the ''Rudens'' it appears in ''fēlēs virginālis'', a “cat for maidens”, that is, a snatcher of girls.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it meant belonging to or befitting a girl of marriageable age:^(OLD 2012) Cicero speaks of a girl's dress and of maidenly modesty,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) and a poet he quotes of a girl's weeping.^(Georges 1913) Later authors use it of beauty in Gellius and of chastity in Augustine.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ As a noun, ''virgināle'' (also shortened to ''virginal'') meant the female genitals, in Phaedrus, Solinus, Apuleius and Prudentius.^(Georges 1913) Christian writers used it for what is virginal, pure and untouched.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ English took ''virginal'' “of a virgin” in the early 15th century, from Old French or directly from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''fēlēs virginālis'' of a snatcher of girls.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of girls' dress and maidenly modesty.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 15 BC–c. 50 AD – Phaedrus uses the neuter ''virgināle'' as a noun.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of a girl's beauty.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 354–430 AD – Augustine uses it of chastity.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English borrows it as [[m|en|virginal]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or befitting a girl of marriageable age, [[m|en|maidenly]], [[m|en|virginal]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' [[m|en|pure|alt=Pure]], untouched, unspotted.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''virgināle'' (or ''virginal''): the female genitals.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[virgineus]]

+ * [[virgō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}