(a) Of a woman: physical intactness, virginity; also, of a bee; (b) avouen (hoten, itaken, merken, yeven) ~, to dedicate (one's) virginity (to God, to the gods); holden ~, remain a virgin; kepen ~, preserve (one's) virginity; also, to preserve (one's) virginity (for sb.); taken ~, offer (one's) maidenhood (to sb.); (c) lesen (forlesen, losen, tinen) ~, to lose virginity; binimen (bireven, defoulen, haven, stelen, taken, winnen) ~, take away virginity; (d) something characteristic of a maiden; gentleness; (e) fig. purity; first use; preven ~, to have first use (of an apparatus).

(a) Celibacy or virginity adopted as a specific religious status; -- also used when celebates are of both sexes; (b) of men: lack of sexual experience, esp. for religious reasons; -- also used when celebates are of both sexes; (c) as distinguished from virginity [see quots.].