vestal

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. adj. Roman Mythology Of or relating to Vesta.
2. adj. Roman Mythology Relating to or characteristic of the vestal virgins.
3. adj. Chaste; pure.
4. n. Roman Mythology A vestal virgin.
5. n. A woman who is a virgin.
6. n. A nun.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Of or pertaining to Vesta, the classical goddess of the sacred fire and of the household and the state.
2. Pertaining to or characteristic of a vestal virgin or a nun.
3. n. Among the ancient Romans, a virgin consecrated to Vesta and to the service of watching the sacred fire, which was kept perpetually burning upon her altar. The vestals were at first four in number, afterward six. They entered the service of the goddess at from six to ten years of age, their term of service lasting thirty years. They were then permitted to retire and to marry, but few did so, for, as vestals, they were treated with great honor, and had important public privileges. Their persons were inviolable, any offense against them being punished with death, and they were treated in all their relations with the highest distinction and reverence. A vestal who broke her vow of chastity was immured alive in an underground vault amid public monrning. There were very few such instances; in one of them, under Domitian, the chief of the vestals was put to death under a false charge trumped up by the emperor.
4. n. Hence A virgin; a woman of spotless chastity; sometimes, a virgin who devotes her life entirely to the service of religion; a nun; a religieuse.
5. n. In entomology: The geometrid moth Sterrha sacraria: popularly so called in England, A gossamer-winged butterfly; any member of the Vestales.

Wiktionary

1. adj. Of or pertaining to Vesta, the virgin goddess of the hearth.
2. adj. Pure; chaste.
3. n. A virgin consecrated to Vesta, and to the service of watching the sacred fire, which was to be perpetually kept burning upon her altar.
4. n. A female virgin; a woman who has never had sexual relations.
5. n. A nun.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. Of or pertaining to Vesta, the virgin goddess of the hearth; hence, pure; chaste.
2. n. (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.
3. n. A virgin; a woman pure and chaste; also, a nun.

WordNet 3.0

1. adj. of or relating to Vesta
2. adj. in a state of sexual virginity
3. n. a chaste woman