Vireo 
eastern United States, west regularly to the great plains 
and sometimes beyond, breeds in all its United .States 
range, and winters from the Southern States to the West 
Indies and Guatemala. It abounds in shrubbery and tan- 
gle, is vivacious and sprightly, has a medley of voluble 
White-eyed Vireo (t'ireo ntrvtboracensis). 
notes, and hangs its nest in a low bush. Scraps of news- 
paper usually enter into this fabric, whence the white-eye 
was nicknamed "the politician " by Wilson. This is one of 
the longest- and best-known of its family, and was known 
to the earlier ornithologists as the green flycatcher (Pen- 
nant), hanging flycatcher (Latham), green wren (Bartram), 
etc. White-eyed vireos, like Maryland yellowthroats and 
summer yellowbirds, are among the most frequent foster- 
parents of the cowbird. Also called white-eyed greenlet. 
Yellow-green Vireo, V. fiavoviridis, a near relative of 
the redeye and whip-tom-Kelly, but yellower, of Mexico 
and over the United States border. Yellow-throated 
Vireo. See yellow-throated. 
Vireonidae (vir-e-on'i-de), . pi. [NL., < Fi- 
reo(n-) + -><lse.~\ A family of small dentirostral 
oscine passerine birds, related to the Luniidir 
or shrikes; the vireos or greenlets. They have a 
hooked bill, rictal bristles, ten primaries, scutellate tarsi, 
and toes coherent at the base. They are all small birds, un- 
der 7 inches long, of simple and mostly greenish coloration, 
and are confined to America, where they are migratory in 
the northern parts. The genera are Vireo, specially charac- 
teristic of North America, containing some 30 species in 
its several sections, with Laletes, Cyclarhis, HylophUus. 
Vireolanitis, and Neochloe, and probably Ihdug and Phceni- 
comanes. N. breripennis is a Mexican type ; L. oslnirni is 
peculiar to Jamaica. The VireoiMic are remarkable in 
possessing either ten, or apparently only nine, primaries 
in closely related forms, owing to the variable develop- 
ment of the spurious first primary, which is sometimes 
quite rudimentary. The species of Vireo are insectivorous, 
and inhabit woodland and shrubbery, have an earnest and 
voluble, often highly melodious song, weave pensile nests, 
and lay spotted eggs. See the phrase-names under Vina, 
and cuts under Dvlus, Ilylophilus, redeye, solitary, Vireo, 
and whip-tom-kelly. 
Vireoninae (vir"e-6-m'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Vi- 
reo(n-) + -inse.] The Vireoniase rated as a sub- 
family of Laniidx. 
vireonine (vir'e-o-nin), . Of or pertaining to 
the Vireonidee; resembling or related to a vireo. 
The usual Vireonine style of architecture ... a closely- 
matted cup swung pensile from a forked twig, nearly 
hemispherical in contour, and rather large for the size of 
the bird. Cows, Birds of Colorado Valley, I. 523. 
Vireosylvia (vir'e-o-sil'vi-a), n. [NL. (Bona- 
parte, 1838), < Vireo + Sylvia, q. v.] A genus 
of vireos, or section of Vireo, including the 
larger greenlets with comparatively slender 
bill, as the common red-eyed vireo, the black- 
whiskered vireo.the whip-tom-kelly, and others. 
See cut under greenlet. 
virescence (vl-res'ens), . [< virescen(t) + -ce.~\ 
1. Greenness; vifidescence. 2. In bot., the 
abnormal assumption of a green color by or- 
gans normally bright-colored, as when the pet- 
als of a flower retain their characteristic form, 
but become green. \ 
vlrescent (vl-res'ent), a. [< L. virescen( t-)s, ppr. 
of virescere, grow "green, inceptive of virere, be 
green: see virent.] Greenish; slightly green ; 
turning or becoming green. 
viretonf (vir'e-ton), n. [OF. vireton, dim. of vire, 
a crossbow-bolt: see virel.'] Same as fire 1 , 1. 
Virga (ver'gii), .; pi. virgee (-je). [NL., < L. 
virga, a rod.] The penis. 
Virgal (ver'gal), a. [< L. virga, a rod, twig, + 
-a!.] Made of twigs. 
virgaloo, . Same as virgouleuse. 
virgarius (ver-ga'ri-us), n.; pi. virgarii (-1). 
[ML.,<L.<jraa,arod: see verge 1 , virgate^.~\ The 
holder of a virgate or yard-laud. See yard-land. 
virgate 1 (ver'gat), a. [< L. virgatus, made of 
twigs, striped, resembling a rod, < virga, a rod, 
twig: see Wal.] Having the shape of a wand 
or rod; slender, straight, and erect: as, a vir- 
gate stem; a, virgate polyp. 
virgate 2 (vfer'gat), n. [< L. virga, a rod, in LL. 
a measure of land (like E. rod, pole, or perch) : 
see verge*. Cf. virgatel.~\ A measure of sur- 
face (corresponding to the ML. terra virgata, 
8764 
measured land). Different areas have bet-n so 
called, without much uniformity. Compare 
quotation under holding, 3 (a). 
The hall-virgate or bovate [corresponds] with the posses- 
sion of a single ox. Seebohm, Eng. Vil. Community, p. 65. 
virgated (ver'gii-ted), a. [< rirgaie 1 + -ed?.~\ 
Same as virgate 1 . 
virget, Virgert. Old spellings of verge 1 , verger 1 . 
Virgilia (ver-jil'i-a), . [NL. (Lamarck, 1793), 
so called in honor of Virgil (Publius Virgilinx 
Maro), the Roman poet, with ref. to the botan- 
ical interest of his "Georgics."] A genus of 
leguminous trees of the tribe tinplmreae. it is 
characterized by papilionaceous rose-purple flowers with 
a broad banner-petal, falcate wings, and connate keel- 
petals, and by a sessile ovary which becomes a coriaceous, 
wingless, flattened two-valved pod. The only species, 
T. Capensis, is an evergreen tree of Cape Colony, from 15 
to 30 feet high, cultivated under the name Cape Virgilia ; 
it bears pinnate leaves with small leaflets, and handsome 
flowers in short terminal i-acemes. V. httea, the American 
yellow-wood, is now referred to Cladrastis. 
Virgilian (ver-jil'i-an), o. [Also Vergilian; < 
li.yirgiliiis (prop. Vergilius) (see def.) + -an.'] 
1. Of or pertaining to Virgil (Publius Virgilius 
Maro), the greatest Roman epic poet (70-19 
B.C.): as, the Virgilian -poems. 2. Resembling 
the style of Virgil. 
The young candidate for academical honours was no 
longer required to write Ovidian epistles or Virgilian pas- 
torals. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. 
virgin (ver'jin), n. and a. [< ME. virgine, ver- 
gine, (. OF. virgine, vernacularly vierge, F. vierge 
= Sp. virgen = Pg. virgem = It. verging, < L. 
virgo (virgin-), a maid, virgin, girl or woman 
(in eccl. writers also of males), as adj. unwed- 
ded, fresh, unused; root uncertain.] I. n. 1. 
A woman who has had no carnal knowledge of 
man ; a maiden of inviolate chastity ; a pure 
maid. Gen. xxiv. 16. 
Sure there is a power 
In that great name of virgin that binds fast 
All rude uncivil bloods, all appetites 
That break their confines. 
Fletcher. Faithful Shepherdess, i. 1. 
The decencies to which women are obliged made these 
virgins stifle their resentment so far as not to break into 
open violences. Steele, Spectator, Ho. 80. 
2. A man who has preserved his chastity. 
These are they which were not defiled with women ; for 
they are virgins. Rev. xiv. 4. 
Before the sepulcher of Christ there is masse said euerie 
day, and none may say the masse there but a man that is 
a pure virgin. E. Webbe, Travels (ed. Arber), p. 26. 
The Saints are virgins; 
They love the white rose of virginity ; . . . 
I have been myself a virgin. 
Tennyson, Harold, iii. 1. 
3. One who professes perpetual virginity; espe- 
cially, in the early church, one of a class or or- 
der of women who were vowed to lifelong con- 
tinence. 4f. The state of virginity. 
St. Jerom affirms that to be continent in the state of 
widowhood is harder than to keep our virgin pure. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1836), I. 90. 
5. A parthenogenetic insect, as an aphid; a 
female insect which lays eggs which hatch, 
though there has been no fecundation for some 
generations by the male. 6. Any female ani- 
mal which has not had young, or has not copu- 
lated. 7. [?ap.~\ The zodiacal sign or the con- 
stellation Virgo. See Virgo. 
When the bright Virgin gives the beauteous days. 
Thomson, Autumn, 1. 23. 
Dolors of the Virgin Mary. See dolor. English vir- 
gins. See Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Espou- 
sals of the Blessed Virgin. See espousal. Feast of 
the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. See presenla- 
tfoni. Institute of the Blessed Virgin. See institute. 
Little office of the Blessed Virgin. Sec office. Na- 
tivity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. See nativity. 
Order of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. See 
presentation^. Purification of St. Mary the Virgin. 
See purification. Servants of the Holy Virgin. See 
Servile. The Virgin, or the Blessed Virgin, the Vir- 
gin Mary, the mother of Christ. 
This image [that we have conceived] of a beautiful fig- 
ure with a pleasant expression cannot but have the ten- 
dency of afterwards leading us to think of the Virgin as 
present when she is not actually present, or as pleased 
with us when she is not actually pleased. 
Ruskin, Lectures on Art, 50. 
Virgin Mary's cowslip, honeysuckle, milkdrops, 
popular names of the lungwort, Pulmonaria offldnalis. 
It has spotted leaves, owing, according to a wide-spread 
tradition, to drops of the Virgin Mary's milk. Britten and 
Holland. [Prov. Eng.] Virgin Mary's nut, a tropical 
nut or bean cast ashore on the western coasts of the British 
Isles, and popularly considered an amulet against the evil 
eye. Also called snake's-egn. Virgin Mary's thistle, 
properly, the milk-thistle, Siltibwm (Carduux) Marianum ; 
referred by Halliwell to the blessed thistle, Centaurea 
(Cnicus) benedicta. Britten and Holland. 
II. a. 1. Of or pertaining to a maid or vir- 
gin ; being a virgin ; befitting a virgin ; chaste ; 
pure; maidenly; indicating modesty. 
virginal 
Rosed over with the virgin crimson of modesty. 
Shah., Hen. V., v. -1. 3-1:',. 
The Day shall come that Men shall see the Kins of all 
living Tilings, and a Virgin Lady of the World shall hold 
him in her Lap. Howell, Letters, iv. 43. 
The virgin captives, with disorder'd charms 
(Won by his own, or by Patroclus's arms), 
Rush'd from the tents with cries ; and, gath'ritig round, 
Beat their white breasts, ;md fainted on the ground. 
Pope, Iliad, xviii. 33. 
2. Unsullied; undefiled: as, virgin snow; rir- 
flin minds. 
The virgin Lillie, and the Primrose trew. 
Spenser, Prothalamion, 1. 32. 
Pardon, goddess of the night, 
Those that slew thy virgin knight. 
Shak., Much Ado, v. 3. 13. 
As Phoebus steals his subtil Ray 
Through virgin Crystal. J. Beaumont, Psyche, ii. 110. 
Sweet flower, I love, in forest bare, 
To meet thee, when thy faint perfume 
Alone is In the virgin air. 
Bryant, Yellow Violet. 
3. Untouched ; not meddled with ; unused ; tin- 
tried; fresh; new; unalloyed: as, virgin soil. 
Tell him the valour that he shew'd against me 
This day, the virgin valour, and true fire, 
Deserves even from an enemy this courtesy. 
Fletcher, Humorous Lieutenant, ii. 4. 
Vierge escu, a virgin shield, or a white shield, without 
any devices, such as was borne by the tyros in chivalry 
who had not performed any memorable action. 
Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, p. 14, note. 
Convictions existed in him by divine right ; they were 
virgin, unwrought, the brute metal of decision. 
K. L. Stevenson, Treasure of Franchard. 
It is impossible to produce, and at the same time to 
obtain an account of, what may be called a virgin sensa- 
tion, such as may be conceived to be the impression of an 
infant mind, if indeed even this may be supposed to exist 
pure from all accretions of transmitted association. 
J. Sully, Sensation and Intuition, p. 38. 
The Sierra Madres in Mexico are still virgin of sports- 
men and skin-hunters. Harper's Mag., LXXVIII. 878. 
4. In zoijl., parthenogenetic, as an insect; of 
or pertaining to parthenogenesis: as, virgin 
reproduction. See agamogenesin virgin birth 
or generation, parthenogenesis. Virgin clay, in in- 
dustrial arts, as glass-making and pottery, clay that has 
never been molded or fired, as distinguished from the 
ground substance of old ware, which is often mixed with 
it Virgin honey. See honey. Virgin mercury, na- 
tive mercury. See mercvn/. Virgin oil. See dive-ail. 
Virgin parchment See parchment. Virgin scam- 
mony. See scammony, 2. Virgin Steel, a deceptive 
name given to articles made merely of good cast-iron. 
Virgin stock. See fa*i, 26 (6).- Virgin swarm, 
a swarm of bees from a swarm of the same season. Hal- 
liwell. 
virgin (ver'jin), v. i. [< virgin, .]. To play the 
virgin; be or continue chaste: sometimes with 
indefinite it. 
My true lip 
Hath virgin'd it e'er since. Shale., Cor., v. 3. 48. 
Virginal 1 (ver'jin-al), a. [< OF. virginal, vir- 
geal, F. virginal = Sp. Pg. virginal = It. ver- 
ginale, < L. virginalis, maidenly, < virgo (vir- 
gin-), a maiden: see virgin.'] 1. Pertaining to 
a virgin ; maidenly: as, virginal reserve. 
With mildnesse mrgma.ll. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 20. 
The virginal palms of your daughters. 
Shalt., Cor., v. 2. 45. 
"Bertha in the Lane" is treasured by the poet's ad- 
mirers for its virginal pathos the sacred revelation of a 
dying maiden's heart. Stedman, Viet. Poets, p. 129. 
2. In zool., virgin; parthenogeuetic : as, the 
virginal reproduction of plant-lice. 
Virginal 2 (ver'jin-al), n. [Early mod. E. vir- 
ginall; said to be so called because "common- 
ly played by young ladies or virgins" ; < virgin- 
al 1 , a.] A spinet, or small harpsichord (which 
Virginal used by Queen Elizabeth, now in South Kensington 
Museum, London. 
