GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Maiden , n. [OE. maiden, meiden, AS. maegden, dim. of AS. maegð, fr. mago son, servant; akin to G. magd, mädchen, maid, OHG. magad, Icel. mögr son, Goth.  magus boy, child, magaps virgin, and perh. to Zend. magu youth.  Cf. Maid a virgin.]
   An unmarried woman; a girl or woman who has not experienced sexual intercourse; a virgin; a maid.
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   She employed the residue of her life to repairing of highways, building of bridges, and endowing of maidens.
   Carew.
   
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   A maiden of our century, yet most meek.
   Tennyson.
   
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   A female servant. [Obs.]
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   An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.
   Wharton.
   
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   A machine for washing linen.
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2.       
   Maiden, a.
   Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence. “Amid the maiden throng.”  
   Addison.
   
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   Have you no modesty, no maiden shame ?
   Shak.
   
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   Never having been married; not having had sexual intercourse; virgin; -- said usually of the woman, but sometimes of the man; as, a maiden aunt. “A surprising old maiden lady.”  
   Thackeray.
   
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   Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused. “Maiden flowers.”  
   Shak.
   
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   Full bravely hast thou fleshed
   Thy maiden sword.
   Shak.
   
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   Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been captured, or violated.
    T. Warton. Macaulay.
   
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   Maiden assize (Eng. Law), 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. Smart. -- Maiden name, the surname of a woman before her marriage. -- Maiden pink. (Bot.) See under Pink. -- Maiden plum (Bot.), a West Indian tree (Comocladia integrifolia) with purplish drupes. The sap of the tree is glutinous, and gives a persistent black stain. -- Maiden speech, the first speech made by a person, esp. by a new member in a public body. -- Maiden tower, the tower most capable of resisting an enemy. -- maiden voyage the first regular service voyage of a ship.
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3.       
   Maiden, v. t. To act coyly like a maiden; -- with it as an indefinite object.
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   For had I maiden'd it, as many use.
   Loath for to grant, but loather to refuse.
   Bp. Hall.
   
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   Maiden grass, the smaller quaking grass. -- Maiden tree. See Ginkgo.
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