Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Manhood; the state of one of the male sex who has arrived at the maturity and strength of a man, and acquired the power of procreation.
- noun The power of procreation.
- noun Character or conduct of man, or befitting a man; masculine action or aspect; hence, strength; vigor.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The quality or state of being virile; developed manhood; manliness; specif., the power of procreation.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The state of being
virile - noun
Manly character - noun The
ability toprocreate
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the masculine property of being capable of copulation and procreation
- noun the trait of being manly; having the characteristics of an adult male
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Though none of these experts agreed openly with Horkheimer's assertion that Monty's excessive masculinity indicated repressed homosexuality, their obsession with "virility" is very suggestive.
Caught in the Crossfire: Adrian Scott and the Politics of Americanism in 1940s Hollywood 2007
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I think virility is the last thing this guy needs ..
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Guns are to some people an expression of virility ...
News 2012
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His virility was a potent force that left her weak.
Heart Of Stone Dailey, Janet 1980
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His virility was a potent force that left her weak.
Heart of Stone Dailey, Janet 1980
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Man possesses few powers which are more highly prized than those of virility, which is the very essence of manhood.
The People's Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English or, Medicine Simplified, 54th ed., One Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Ray Vaughn Pierce 1877
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Compared with some of its predecessors, the play shows a decided growth in what may be termed virility of mind: a wider scope, a higher reach,
Shakespeare His Life Art And Characters Hudson, H N 1872
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Compared with some of its predecessors, the play shows a decided growth in what may be termed virility of mind: a wider scope, a higher reach, a firmer grasp, have been attained: the Poet has come to read
Shakespeare: His Life, Art, And Characters, Volume I. With An Historical Sketch Of The Origin And Growth Of The Drama In England Henry Norman Hudson 1850
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Perhaps your virility is a threat to me since my erections are not as firm as when I was twenty-five?
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The potential homosexuality that they perceived in Samuels and Mitchell stands in sharp contrast to the "virility" they perceived in Monty.
Caught in the Crossfire: Adrian Scott and the Politics of Americanism in 1940s Hollywood 2007
bilby commented on the word virility
The high-pitched, tinny sound of this word isn't very manly.
October 5, 2008