Maiden
['meɪd(ə)n] or ['medn]
Definition
(n.) An unmarried woman; a girl or woman who has not experienced sexual intercourse; a virgin; a maid.
(n.) A female servant.
(n.) An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.
(n.) A machine for washing linen.
(a.) Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence.
(a.) Never having been married; not having had sexual intercourse; virgin; -- said usually of the woman, but sometimes of the man; as, a maiden aunt.
(a.) Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused.
(a.) Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been captured, or violated.
(v. t.) To act coyly like a maiden; -- with it as an indefinite object.
Typed by Keller
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Girl, virgin, MAID.
a. [1]. Of maids, of virgins.[2]. Pure, chaste, undefiled, virgin.[3]. Fresh, new.
Editor: Vince
Definition
n. a maid: in Scotland a machine like the guillotine formerly used for beheading criminals.—adj. pertaining to a virgin or young woman: consisting of maidens: (fig.) unpolluted: fresh: new: unused: first: that has never been captured said of a fortress.—ns. Maid′enhair a name given to a fern from the fine hair-like stalks of its fronds; Maid′enhood Maid′enhead the state of being a maid: virginity: purity: freshness; Maid′enliness.—adjs. Maid′enly maiden-like: becoming a maiden: gentle: modest; Maid′en-meek (Tenn.) meek as a maiden; Maid′en-tongued gentle in voice like a girl; Maid′en-wid′owed widowed while still a virgin.—n. Maid′hood (Shak.).—Maiden assize an assize at which there are no criminal cases; Maiden battle a first contest; Maiden fortress a fortress that has never been captured; Maiden name the family name of a married woman before her marriage; Maiden over in cricket an over in which no runs are made; Maiden speech the first public speech made by a person esp. in Parliament; Maiden stakes in horse-racing the money contended for in a race between horses that have never run before.
Typist: Veronica
Unserious Contents or Definition
n. A young person of the unfair sex addicted to clewless conduct and views that madden to crime. The genus has a wide geographical distribution being found wherever sought and deplored wherever found. The maiden is not altogether unpleasing to the eye nor (without her piano and her views) insupportable to the ear though in respect to comeliness distinctly inferior to the rainbow and with regard to the part of her that is audible bleaten out of the field by the canary—which also is more portable.
Inputed by Angie
Examples
- Much cant have I heard and read about 'maiden modesty,' but, properly used, and not hackneyed, the words are good and appropriate words. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Her voice faltered and her hand trembled, and it was only the cold question of Ivanhoe, Is it you, gentle maiden? Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- I have no portion in thee, cruel, hard-hearted man, said the unfortunate maiden. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Speak, maiden! Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Given once, the pure bashful maiden was too modest, too tender, too trustful, too weak, too much woman to recall it. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- He only replied, Silence, maiden; thy tongue outruns thy discretion. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Let them insult my maiden pride as they will--I walk pure before God! Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- But you, maiden, said Rowena--you surely can have nothing to fear. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- It is against my vow to love any maiden, otherwise than 'par amours', as I will love thee. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Get along with you, you wretch,' said the hand-maiden, obviously not ill-pleased with the compliment, however. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- I laughed outright, and she joined me in as gay a shout as ever country maiden in old Orange county. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- I may not deny what thou hast challenged, said the Grand Master, provided the maiden accepts thee as her champion. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- When all was ready, Margaret opened the study door, and went in like a serving-maiden, with a heavy tray held in her extended arms. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- I have chosen no death, maiden, I replied. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- Here we may take it that there is a love matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or grieved. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- Let all young men present mark this: 'The maidens all flocked to his boat so readily. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- The maidens of Valhalla look forth, The race of Hengist will send them guests. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Quickly I ordered fifty of the prisoners to drop back behind us and form a new circle about the maidens. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- Afterwards a number of maidens, with vine-leaf-decorated amphoras of wine, baskets of figs, and bunches of grapes. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- I'll trouble you for a pin, my dear, said Armstrong to one of his attendant maidens. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Most of these maidens were not wealthy, but some few had been very kindly dealt with by fortune. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- One of the maidens presented a silver cup, containing a rich mixture of wine and spice, which Rowena barely put to her lips. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- That room was their boat; that audience were the maidens; and he (Mr. Anthony Humm), however unworthily, was 'first oars' (unbounded applause). Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- When they entered, they found themselves in the presence of about twenty matrons and maidens of distinguished Saxon lineage. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Shake your black tresses, maidens of Valhalla! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- But, was it the maidens of humble life only, who soothed, consoled, and supported him? Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Now enters the chorus proper of young Greek maidens, dressed in black stoles, to denote the sorrowful condition of their country. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- Sir Templar, said he, the cheeks of our Saxon maidens have seen too little of the sun to enable them to bear the fixed glance of a crusader. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- The sisterhood, the maidens, flocking round the young waterman, and urging him along the stream of duty and of temperance. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- To look for a glove that was dropped by one of the maidens. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
Editor: Maris