vestal

5 definitions found

vestal - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Vestal \Ves"tal\, a. [L. Vestalis belonging to Vesta, vestal.
     See Vesta.]
     Of or pertaining to Vesta, the virgin goddess of the hearth;
     hence, pure; chaste.
     [1913 Webster]

  Vestal \Ves"tal\, n. [L. Vestalis (sc. virgo): cf. F. vestale.
     See Vestal, a.]
     1. (Rom. Antiq.) A virgin consecrated to Vesta, and to the
        service of watching the sacred fire, which was to be
        perpetually kept burning upon her altar.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The Vestals were originally four, but afterward six, in
           number. Their term of service lasted thirty years, the
           period of admission being from the sixth to the tenth
           year of the candidate's age.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A virgin; a woman pure and chaste; also, a nun.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]

vestal - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  vestal
      adj 1: of or relating to Vesta; "vestal virgin"
      2: in a state of sexual virginity; "pure and vestal modesty"; "a
         spinster or virgin lady"; "men have decreed that their women
         must be pure and virginal" [syn: pure, vestal, virgin,
         virginal, virtuous]
      n 1: a chaste woman

vestal - U.S. Gazetteer (1990) :

  Vestal, NY
    Zip code(s): 13850

vestal - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  19 Moby Thesaurus words for "vestal":
     Platonic, abstinent, bachelor girl, celibate, continent, feme sole,
     intact, lone woman, maid, maiden, maiden lady, maidenly, old maid,
     single girl, spinster, spinstress, vestal virgin, virgin,
     virginal