出典:Wiktionary
出典:『Wiktionary』 (2026/05/07 14:17 UTC 版)
Uncertain; one hypothesis is that it is related to virga (“young shoot”).
virgō f (genitive virginis); third declension
In ancient Roman authors, virgō is usually applied to an unwed but marriageable young female citizen, distinguished from either a married female citizen (mātrōna) or a courtesan (meretrīx) and also potentially in contrast with mulier (literally "woman" but often used more specifically with the sense of "wife, married woman"). Like English 'virgin', the Latin term could be defined by the condition of having never had sexual intercourse. In this sense, virgō could be applied to a woman who had married but had not consummated the marriage. Per Watson 1983, the physical definition appears to become more frequent in later Latin.
However, lack of physical sexual experience was not necessarily an essential part of the definition in all contexts. Varro uses the term in a passage that claims that per the customs of Illyricum, it was normal for women to remain unmarried up to the age of twenty and be regarded as virginēs ("virgines ibi appellant”) regardless of whether they had engaged in sexual intercourse or had children before marriage. In addition, there are cases where Roman authors use virgō to refer to an unmarried girl or woman who had been physically violated without her consent, and so was not considered to have transgressed the norm of chastity herself. Compare Ancient Greek παρθένος (parthénos, “maiden; unmarried young woman”).
In ancient Rome, a virgō would typically have an age somewhere around 12 to 19 years (outside of special contexts such as the Vestal Virgins, sworn to celibacy for at least 30 years), although the use of the term was not rigidly restricted by age: it is also attested on grave inscriptions for individuals as young as 6 years and as old as 22. Hence, already in ancient times, virgō can alternatively denote simply young age ("young woman, girl"). The meaning of virgō is generally narrower than that of puella (“girl”) in multiple respects. First, a girl younger than marriageable age (12 years at minimum per Roman law, although marriages at earlier ages are attested in practice) is normally referred to as a puella, not a virgō; when applied to a young girl, virgō is usually used with a qualifying adjective such as parva (“small”). Second, puella could be used to refer to a young married woman or to a young female lover or mistress (this usage is common in erotic poetry). Third, it seems that puella, etymologically a diminutive form, could sometimes have an affectionate tone, and might sometimes be used for that reason to refer to a girl who could also be described as a virgō.
Third-declension noun.
virgō f
Used with adjectival sense, but can be interpreted grammatically as a noun in apposition; the declension is the same as that of the noun. Typically used as a modifier of feminine nouns, but some examples with male or neuter nouns are attested. Compare the use of anus (“old woman”) as an adjective (usually only in combination with feminine nouns) meaning "aged, old".
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