Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The condition or time of being a maiden.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state of being a maid or maiden; the state of an unmarried female; virginity.
  • noun Freshness; newness.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The state of being a maid or a virgin; virginity.
  • noun Newness; freshness; uncontaminated state.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable The condition of being a maiden; the time when one is a maiden or young girl.
  • noun The state of an unwed female; virginity.
  • noun countable The maidenhead.
  • noun Freshness; newness.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the childhood of a girl

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English maydenhode, meidenhod, maȝdenhad, from Old English mæġdenhād ("maidenhood"), corresponding to maiden +‎ -hood.

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Examples

  • If the negotiations go off smoothly, the marriage contract is written, presents are exchanged between the engaged couple, through their respective parents, and all that is left the girl of her maidenhood is a period of busy preparation for the wedding.

    The Promised Land Mary Antin 1915

  • If the negotiations go off smoothly, the marriage contract is written, presents are exchanged between the engaged couple, through their respective parents, and all that is left the girl of her maidenhood is a period of busy preparation for the wedding.

    The Promised Land 1912

  • If the negotiations go off smoothly, the marriage contract is written, presents are exchanged between the engaged couple, through their respective parents, and all that is left the girl of her maidenhood is a period of busy preparation for the wedding.

    The Promised Land Antin, Mary, 1881-1949 1912

  • Her anxiety pleased me, and I gave her a new confidence by telling her that nature had refused to many young girls what is called maidenhood, and that only a fool could be angry with a girl for such a reason.

    The memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt 1827

  • Her anxiety pleased me, and I gave her a new confidence by telling her that nature had refused to many young girls what is called maidenhood, and that only

    Memoirs of Casanova — Volume 02: a Cleric in Naples Giacomo Casanova 1761

  • Her anxiety pleased me, and I gave her a new confidence by telling her that nature had refused to many young girls what is called maidenhood, and that only

    The Complete Memoirs of Jacques Casanova Giacomo Casanova 1761

  • Ruth was blushing, but it was the blush of maidenhood called upon for the first time to discuss the sacred things of life with a mother held equally sacred.

    Chapter 19 2010

  • To his shock, Angelo finds himself deeply, furiously desirous of Isabella and says he will spare her brother's life if she gives up her maidenhood to him.

    Michael Giltz: Theater: Shakespeare In The Park "Ends Well" With "Measure" Michael Giltz 2011

  • To his shock, Angelo finds himself deeply, furiously desirous of Isabella and says he will spare her brother's life if she gives up her maidenhood to him.

    Michael Giltz: Theater: Shakespeare In The Park "Ends Well" With "Measure" Michael Giltz 2011

  • Ernestine, but little taller than Paula, although hinting of a plus roundness to come, was a sun-healthy, clear blonde, her skin sprayed with the almost transparent flush of maidenhood at eighteen.

    CHAPTER XIV 2010

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