Crossword clues for virago
virago
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Virago \Vi*ra"go\ (?; 277), n.; pl. Viragoes. [L. virago, -intis, from vir a man. See Virile.]
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A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage; a woman who has the robust body and masculine mind of a man; a female warrior.
To arms! to arms! the fierce virago cries.
--Pope. -
Hence, a mannish woman; a bold, turbulent woman; a termagant; a vixen.
Virago . . . serpent under femininity.
--Chaucer.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
late 14c., "man-like or heroic woman, woman of extraordinary stature, strength and courage," from Latin virago "female warrior, heroine, amazon," from vir "man" (see virile). Ælfric (c.1000), following Vulgate, used it in Gen. ii:23 as the name Adam gave to Eve (KJV = woman):\n\nBeo hire nama Uirago, þæt is, fæmne, forðan ðe heo is of hire were genumen.\n\nRelated: Viraginous.
Wiktionary
a. Pertaining to a virago. n. (said of a woman) Given to undue belligerence or ill manner at the slightest provocation; a shrew, a termagant.
WordNet
Wikipedia
A virago is a woman who demonstrates exemplary and heroic qualities. The word comes from the Latin word vir, meaning 'man' (cf. virile) to which the suffix -ago is added, a suffix that effectively re-genders the word to be female.
The word virago has almost always had an association with cultural gender transgression. A virago, of whatever excellence, was still identified by her gender. There are recorded instances of viragos (such as Joan of Arc) fighting battles, wearing men's clothing, or receiving the tonsure. The word virago could also be used disparagingly, to imply that a virago was not excellent or heroic, but was instead violating cultural norms. Thus virago joined pejoratives such as termagant, mannish, amazonian and shrew to demean women who acted aggressively or like men.
A virago is a strong, brave, or warlike woman.
Virago may also refer to:
Virago is a 1999 EP collection by the Norwegian gothic metal band Theatre of Tragedy. The disc contains tracks left off the album Aégis of 1998, plus tracks from Velvet Darkness They Fear and the band's first album, Theatre of Tragedy. The EP was also known as the Shaped Edition. It was released on 26 May 1999.
Virago (1851–1869) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a career which lasted from November 1853 to July 1855 she ran sixteen times and won eleven races. All but one of her victories came as a three-year-old in 1854, a year in which she dominated British racing, winning major events at distances ranging from one mile to three miles. Her wins included the classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Nassau Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks against her own age and sex. More notable were her successes in open competition, including the Goodwood and Doncaster Cups and three of the season's most valuable handicap races. She was regarded by many British experts as one of the greatest racehorses of the 19th century.
Usage examples of "virago".
And I had to concede that Audefleda was neither a frivolous little dotterel nor an overbearing young virago.
Sofia, pausing unseen and unsuspected in the darkness just outside the doorway, could see him slouching deep in his chair, to one side of the table, his soft fat hands deep in the pockets of his trousers, his chin sunken on his chest, something dogged in the louring frown which he was bending upon nothing, something of genuine indifference in his passive attitude toward the blowsy virago who was leaning across the table the better to spit vituperation at him.
Birds Who Do Words, long before Virago Press, and Wrichted Leterature.
Virago A Virago Book First published in Great Britain as a paperback original by Virago Press in 2002 Copyright Waris Dirie 2002 The moral right of the author has been asserted.
With them, perhaps, I was calling Lorenza to me, or perhaps I was only repeating them to myself, in a propitiatory litany: White Copper, Immaculate Lamb, Aibathest, Alborach, Blessed Water, Purified Mercury, Orpiment, Azoch, Baurach, Cambar, Caspa, Cherry, Wax, Chaia, Comerisson, Electron, Euphrates, Eve, Fada, Fa-vonius, Foundation of the Art, Precious Stone of Givinis, Diamond, Zibach, Ziva, Veil, Narcissus, Lily, Hermaphrodite, Hae, Hypostasis, Hyle, Virgin’s Milk, Unique Stone, Full Moon, Mother, Living Oil, Legume, Egg, Phlegm, Point, Root, Salt of Nature, Leafy Earth, Tevos, Tincar, Steam, Evening Star, Wind, Virago, Pharaoh’s Glass, Baby’s Urine, Vulture, Placenta, Menstruum, Fugitive Slave, Left Hand, Sperm of Metals, Spirit, Tin, Juice, Oil of Sulfur.
Daffodil, attended by Nell and Rose and Cumber Young (he carrying her two suitcases), was helped down from the dome car by station staff and went off slowly into the main part of the station Daffodil's curls were piled as perkily high as usual but her shoulders drooped inside the chinchillas, and the glimpse I had of her face showed a forlorn lost-child expression rather than a virago bent on revenge.
He has the gall to tell this virago Debbie that Sookie is good in bed.
But the old man could not summon up the strength of mind to be quit of this succubine virago.
You'd think the planet was populated by viragoes the way tempers are flaring for no reason at all.
He could not himself exactly have explained how his conception of the difference between the French and English Courts arose, but at seven years old, he in some way knew that King Louis was a finer gentleman than King Charles, that his Court was more elegant, and that the beauties who ruled it were not merry orange wenches, or romping card house-building maids of honour, or splendid viragoes who raved and stamped and poured forth oaths as fishwives do.
Moreover, the viragos of the elite powered armor units in effect fought exclusively in what the REF would term Battloid mode.
Acting under orders from an unseen master, these viragos retreated and prepared to roll heavy rocks down on the advancing intruders.
He will get fresh tea brewed by the very viragos who think they’ ve got him in a clean pin.