| 释义 |
virginity|vəˈdʒɪnɪtɪ|
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 n. 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).
a1300Cursor M. 24681 Man or womman, queþer it be, þat liues in wirginite, Quat fanding þat þai fele. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xvi. 203 Wedloke and widwehode with virgynyte ynempned, In toknynge of þe Trinite was taken oute of o man. c1386Chaucer Wife's Prol. 62 When sawe ye in eny maner age That highe God defendid mariage By expres word?..Or wher commaunded he virginite? 1526Pilgr. 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. 1547–64Bauldwin Mor. Philos. (Palfr.) vii. vii, The first degree of chastity is pure virginity, and the second faithfull matrimony. 1570R. 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.]. 1651Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 174 Origen..saith that such as live in virginity, doe not that which is commanded, but above what is due. a1711Ken Psyche Poet. Wks. 1721 IV. 256 Virginity's a Heav'nly tender Grace, Connatural to the angelick Race. 1837Hallam 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. 1840Newman Par. Serm. V. vii. 103 Therefore marriage was in repute and virginity in disesteem. 1871Freeman 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).
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxxvi. (Baptist) 14 Angele als callit wes he [John the Baptist], fore kepyng of verginite. 1382Wyclif John Prol., Double witnesse of virginyte is ȝouun to hym..in this that he is said loued of God byfor othere disciplis. 1430–40Lydg. Bochas i. (Bodl. MS.) 58/2 He lyued euer in virgynyte. 1456Coventry Leet Bk. 288 John Euaungelist. Holy Edward, crownyd kyng, brothur in virginyte. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. xvi. 101 Hee that wil enter into this religion must..obserue..virginitie and abstinence. 1615Bedwell Moham. Impost. ii. §68 By this perfection, that is, by virginitie, it is knowne that he was of God accepted for his perfection. 1657A. 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. 1658Bromhall Treat. Specters v. 307 [He] defended the married Priests against the Monks, which observed the vow of Virginity. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. (1877) II. App. 538 The resolution of Eadward..to devote himself to a life of perpetual virginity. 1884Cath. 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.
c1386Chaucer 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. 1390Gower Conf. II. 336 And thus cam this Calistona Into the wode of Tegea, Wher sche virginite behihte Unto Diane. c1410Hoccleve Mother of God 65 Wel oghten we thee worsshipe & honure, Paleys of Cryst, flour of virginitee. 1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) VI. 91 Seynte Etheldreda,..whiche contynuede in virginite thauȝhe sche was mariede twyes. 1447O. Bokenham Seyntys Introd. (Roxb.) 6 Whan I gan inwardly to remembre..Of hyr that is gemme of virgynyte. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lxxxvi. 17 Roiss Mary,..O chast conclaif of clene virginite, That closit Crist but crymes criminale. 1540R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. i. vi. (1541) 15 b, Virginite was euer an holy thinge euen amonge theues, breakers of Sayntuary, vngratious liuers [etc.]. 1603Dekker Patient Grissill 816 Master Farneze, sweet virginitie is that inuisible God⁓head, that turns vs into Angells, that makes vs saints on earth, and starres in heauen. 1634Milton Comus 738 List Lady,..be not cosen'd With that same vaunted name Virginity. 1711Addison Spect. No. 164 ⁋5 That Vow of Virginity in which she [a novice] was going to engage herself. 1911Edin. Rev. July 62 Jacqueline aspired to the veil, dedicated herself to virginity and the spiritual life.
d. Personified.
c1400Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483) iv. iv. 60 This noble lady was suster to Aungels and was cleped vyrgynyte. c1420Lydg. Assembly of Gods 842 Many pety capteyns aftyr these went, As..Clennesse, Continence, and Virginite.
2. a. 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.
1303R. 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. c1400Laud 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. c1425Wyntoun Cron. iii. 130 Þat scho mycht murnand be Twa moneth hir virginite. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lxxxiv. 13 Evin so women wairis thair virginitie On thame that maist ar holdin onworthie. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. i. i. 298, I denie her Virginitie: I was taken with a Maide. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 20 The [Malagasy] youth scarce knowing twelue, the maid ten years in the World, the title of Virginity. 1709Addison Tatler No. 102 ⁋1 Some pleaded their unspotted Virginity; others their numerous issue. 1750Johnson Rambler No. 39 ⁋5 The reproach and solitude of antiquated virginity. 1796H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) II. 543 They dispense premiums on virginity! 1825Scott Lett. 24 Aug. in Lockhart, The celebrated ‘Ladies’..who..selected this charming spot for the repose of their time⁓honoured virginity. 1884Cath. 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.
1390Gower 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. 1402Quixley Ballade xii. in Yorksh. Archæol. Jrnl. (1908) XX. 46 This Tereus kyng, The virginite rauysht by treson Of Philomene. c1440Gesta Rom. ix. 23 (Harl. MS.), Whan he was ded, þer come a knyȝt, and spoiled me of my virginite. 1485Caxton St. Wenefr. 9 She chase leuer the smytynge of of her hede than to lose her vyrgynyte. 1563–83Foxe A. & M. 94/2 Her heare hanging about her shoulders in two parts deuided (wherewith her shamefast chastitie and virginitie was couered). 1599Shakes. Much Ado iv. i. 49 If you..Haue vanquisht the resistance of her youth, And made defeat of her virginitie. 1622Rowlands Good Newes & B. 21 Since Nans Virginity past help is lost, They'l teach him what a maidenhead will cost. c1706Prior True Maid 1 For my Virginity, When I lose that, says Rose, I'll dye. 1728Chambers Cycl. s.v., That the next Relation..of the Maid's, shall undertake to enjoy her before him, and take away her Virginity. 1759A. 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. 1866B. Taylor On Leaving California Poems 272 Mother of mighty men, thou shalt not mourn Thy lost virginity.
fig.1652Crashaw 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.
1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies v. xv. 367 Some were appoynted to serve the Guacas and Sanctuaries, keeping their virginities for ever. 1632Lithgow Trav. iv. 157 The men..and the Virgines..both shall haue their Virginities renewed, as fast, as lost. 1634W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. 269 Nor was every any virginity so britle, as that she brought into the world.
d. Used as a title: A virgin or unmarried woman. rare—1.
1755F. Brooke Old Maid No. 9. 64 You must know then, my good sister virginity, that [etc.].
3. a. fig. The state of being virgin, fresh, or new.
1610G. 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. 1639Fuller Holy War xix. (1647) 31 Cana the less.., where he shewed the virginity of his miracles, turning water into wine. 1692South 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? 1896Daily News 14 Feb. 5/4 Pretty well for what Lord Rosebery would call the virginity of the Session. 1915J. 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.
b. transf. (The appearance of) virtue or integrity; innocence, inexperience. Also with adj. indicating a sphere of activity. Cf. virgin n. 2 f.
1975Listener 10 Apr. 468/1 She turned down {pstlg}20,000 for half-a-day's advertising work. ‘I'm selling my virginity,’ she said. ‘At least, that's what they're bidding for.’ 1978T. L. Smith Money War i. 21 The President does not want to know... They all want it handled discreetly. And they all wish to maintain their virginity. 1982Times 15 Feb. 4/2 He could claim no political virginity since he..had been an elected delegate at both Conservative and Labour conferences.
Hence virˈginityship, spinsterhood.
1741Mrs. Montagu Lett. I. 299 Old Virginityship is certainly Milton's Hell ‘Where hope ne'er comes that comes to all.’ |