Where does “virginal” come from?
virginal (Middle French) comes from Latin virginalis, from Latin virgō, from Ancient Greek παρθένος, from Proto-Indo-European pstḗn, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂ǵ-sth₂-ḗn, from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- — to stand.
Ancestry of “virginal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | virginalis | maidenly; of or pertaining to a maiden or virgin |
| 2 | Latin | virgō | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | παρθένος | maidenly; chaste; young, unmarried woman; maiden |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | pstḗn | breast, teat |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₂ǵ-sth₂-ḗn | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |