maidenhood
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English maydenhode, meidenhod, maȝdenhad, from Old English mæġdenhād (“maidenhood”), equivalent to maiden + -hood.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
maidenhood (countable and uncountable, plural maidenhoods)
- (uncountable) The condition of being a maiden; the time when one is a maiden or young girl.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “iij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XI:
- Thenne she said my lord sir launcelot I biseche yow see me as soone as ye may / for I haue obeyed me vnto the prophecy that my fader teld me / And by his commaūdement to fulfille this prophecy I haue gyuen the grettest rychesse and the fayrest floure that euer I had / and that is my maydenhode that I shalle neuer haue ageyne / and therfore gentyl knyȝt owe me youre good wille
- Then she said, My Lord, Sir Lancelot, I beseech you see me as soon as you may / For I have obeyed unto the prophecy that my father told me / And by his commandment to fulfill this prophecy I have given the greatest riches and the fairest flower that ever I had / And that is my maidenhood that I shall never have again / And therefor gentle knight, owe me your goodwill
- A woman's virginity or maidenhead.
- Freshness; newness.
Synonyms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
condition of being maiden
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maidenhead
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Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms suffixed with -hood
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English countable nouns
- Middle English terms with quotations