Part 6751

<h1>Maiden</h1> <Xpage=883>

<hw>Maid"en</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or characteristic of, a virgin; <as>as, <ex>maiden</ex> innocence</as>.</def> "Amid the <i>maiden</i> throng."

<i>Addison.</i>

<blockquote>Have you no modesty, no <b>maiden</b> shame ? <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Never having been married; not having had sexual intercourse; virgin; -- said usually of the woman, but sometimes of the man; <as>as, a <ex>maiden</ex> aunt</as>.</def> "A surprising old <i>maiden</i> lady."

<i>Thackeray.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused. "<i>Maiden</i> flowers.'</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy <b>maiden</b> sword. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been captured, or violated.</def>

<i> T. Warton. Macaulay.</i>

<cs><col>Maiden assize</col> <fld>(Eng. Law)</fld>, <cd>an assize which there is no criminal prosecution; an assize which is unpolluted with blood. It was usual, at such an assize, for the sheriff to present the judge with a pair of white gloves. <i>Smart<i>.</cd> -- <col>Maiden name</col>, <cd>the surname of a woman before her marriage.</cd> -- <col>Maiden pink</col>. <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <cd>See under <er>Pink</er>.</cd> -- <col>Maiden plum</col> <fld>(Bot.)</fld>, <cd>a West Indian tree (<spn>Comocladia integrifolia</spn>) with purplish drupes. The sap of the tree is glutinous, and gives a persistent black stain.</cd> -- <col>Maiden speech</col>, <cd>the first speech made by a person, esp. by a new member in a public body.</cd> -- <col>Maiden tower</col>, <cd>the tower most capable of resisting an enemy.</cd></cs><-- maiden voyage. first regular service voyage of a ship -->

<h1>Maiden</h1> <Xpage=883>

<hw>Maid"en</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To act coyly like a maiden; -- with <i>it</i> as an indefinite object.</def>

<blockquote>For had I <b>maiden'd</b> it, as many use. Loath for to grant, but loather to refuse. <i>Bp. Hall.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Maidenhair</h1> <Xpage=883>

<hw>Maid"en*hair`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A fern of the genus <spn>Adiantum</spn> (<spn>A. pedatum</spn>), having very slender graceful stalks. It is common in the United States, and is sometimes used in medicine. The name is also applied to other species of the same genus, as to the Venus-hair.</def>

<cs><col>Maiden grass</col>, <cd>the smaller quaking grass.</cd> -- <col>Maiden tree</col>. <cd>See <er>Ginkgo</er>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Maidenhead</h1> <Xpage=883>

<hw>Maid"en*head</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Maidenhood</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The state of being a maiden; maidenhood; virginity.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The state of being unused or uncontaminated; freshness; purity.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>The <b>maidenhead</b> of their credit. <i>Sir H. Wotton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The hymen, or virginal membrane.</def>

<h1>Maidenhood</h1> <Xpage=883>

<hw>Maid"en*hood</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>m\'91gdenh\'bed</ets>. See <er>Maid</er>, and <er>-hood</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The state of being a maid or a virgin; virginity.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Newness; freshness; uncontaminated state.</def>