virginal
virginal Lexical Profile
virginal Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, characteristic of, or befitting a virgin; chaste, innocent, and sexually inexperienced.
"The actress was cast for her wide-eyed, virginal demeanor in the period drama."
In a pure, pristine, or untouched state; unspoiled or sullied by human activity.
"A thick blanket of virginal snow covered the quiet mountain valley."
• noun
A small, rectangular keyboard instrument of the harpsichord family with plucked strings running nearly parallel to the keyboard, popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.
"The museum's collection of Renaissance instruments includes a finely painted Flemish virginal."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the musical instrument, the word is frequently used in the plural form ('virginals' or 'a pair of virginals') to denote a single instrument.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French 'virginal' and Latin 'virginalis', from 'virgo' ('maiden, virgin'). The musical instrument was likely so named in the 16th century because it was commonly played by young women.