English Dictionary |
VESTAL
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
IPA (US): |
Dictionary entry overview: What does vestal mean?
• VESTAL (noun)
The noun VESTAL has 1 sense:
Familiarity information: VESTAL used as a noun is very rare.
• VESTAL (adjective)
The adjective VESTAL has 2 senses:
2. in a state of sexual virginity
Familiarity information: VESTAL used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A chaste woman
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("vestal" is a kind of...):
adult female; woman (an adult female person (as opposed to a man))
Derivation:
vestal (in a state of sexual virginity)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Of or relating to Vesta
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Context example:
vestal virgin
Pertainym:
Vesta ((Roman mythology) goddess of the hearth and its fire whose flame was tended by vestal virgins; counterpart of Greek Hestia)
Derivation:
Vesta (the brightest asteroid but the fourth to be discovered)
Sense 2
Meaning:
In a state of sexual virginity
Synonyms:
pure; vestal; virgin; virginal; virtuous
Context example:
men have decreed that their women must be pure and virginal
Similar:
chaste (morally pure (especially not having experienced sexual intercourse))
Derivation:
vestal (a chaste woman)
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