virago Latin · revision 36789

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [wɪˈraː.ɡoː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [viˈraː.ɡo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''virāgō''' ''f'' (genitive virāginis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|vir|-āgō|t1=man]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) while Lewis & Short and Georges derive it from [[m|la|virgō|t=maiden]].^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) De Vaan notes that nouns in ⟨-āgō⟩ are usually built on nouns or verbs with ⟨-ā-⟩, so Leumann suggests a base ⟨vira⟩ “woman”, a word recorded in Paulus' epitome of Festus;^(de Vaan 2008) Walde and Hofmann wondered whether it was formed after [[m|la|imāgō|t=image]], with the sense “man-like”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ [[m|la|vir|alt=Vir]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*wiro-]] and [[ine-pro|*uiH-ró-|t=man, young man, warrior]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) where in the ''Mercator'' a character promises to buy a sturdy maid (''ancillam virāginem'') who will grind, cook and finish the day's spinning.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Ennius applies it to a goddess, whom the OLD takes to be perhaps Discordia and Lewis & Short Minerva.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In poetry it became a word for a warlike or heroic woman: Virgil calls Juturna ''virāgō'', Ovid Pallas Athene, Seneca Diana and Polyxena, and Statius uses it too; inscriptions apply it to Diana.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Lactantius uses it of an Amazon.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ In Christian Latin the Vulgate explains Eve's name in Genesis as ''virāgō'', “because she was taken out of man”,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(DMLBS) and Arnobius and Paulinus of Nola use it for a young girl or virgin.^(Conte 2010) Medieval writers in Britain used it both of a woman of masculine temperament, as Aldhelm of Circe, and, after Genesis, simply of a woman.^(DMLBS) English borrowed it in the late 14th century for a man-like or heroic woman.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a strong woman.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius applies it to a goddess.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil calls Juturna ''virāgō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–317 AD – Lactantius uses it of an Amazon.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it of Eve.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it of Circe.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|virago]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A physically strong woman.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A warlike or [[m|en|heroic]] woman, a [[m|en|heroine]]; especially of goddesses.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+ # An [[m|en|Amazon]].^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A young girl, a [[m|en|virgin]].^(Conte 2010)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' A woman, after Eve in Genesis.^(Stelten 1995)^(DMLBS)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A woman of masculine temperament.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vir]]

+ * [[virīlis]]

+ * [[virtūs]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein contrasts it with [[virgō]], an unmarried woman of any age, and [[puella]], a young woman married or not: ''virāgō'' is a masculine, strong, heroic young woman.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}