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Spinster vs Virginal - What's the difference?

spinster | virginal | Related terms |

Spinster is a related term of virginal.


As nouns the difference between spinster and virginal

is that spinster is a woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions while virginal is (musici) a musical instrument in the harpsichord family.

As an adjective virginal is

being or resembling a virgin.

spinster

English

(wikipedia spinster)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions.
  • * Coke
    • If a gentlewoman be termed a spinster , she may abate the writ.
  • One who spins (puts a spin on) a political media story so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance; a spin doctor, spin merchant or spin master.
  • (obsolete) Someone whose occupation was spinning thread.
  • * ~1601 , William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night , act II, scene IV:
    • The spinsters and the knitters in the sun.
  • (obsolete) A woman of evil life and character; so called from being forced to spin in a house of correction.
  • (rare) A spider; an insect (such as a silkworm) which spins thread.
    • (Webster 1913)

    Synonyms

    * old maid

    See also

    * bachelor * widow * divorcee ----

    virginal

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Being or resembling a virgin.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (musici) A musical instrument in the harpsichord family.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1932, author=
    • , title=Friday's Business , chapter=16 citation , passage=His uncle, a Cardinal, engages a Spanish youth of Moorish descent called Diego, an expert singer and player on the virginal , to unlock the secrets of the heart, and to cleanse his bosom of the perilous stuff, and cure him by the spell of his music.}}

    Usage notes

    * The singular form may be either virginal or (virginals).

    Anagrams

    * rivaling ----