virago

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Das Mannweib, an amazon or virago, is a neutered female.

View all »Definitions (8)

American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun A woman regarded as noisy, scolding, or domineering.
  2. noun A large, strong, courageous woman.

View all » Examples

  • This final scene brings out a flood of the most violent vituperation from this veritable virago, some of it exceedingly low in tone. —  Frederic Mistral
  • Exasperated at this virago, the neighbours made a "riding," i.e. a pedestrian procession, headed by a drum, and accompanied by a chemise, displayed for a banner. —  The Diary of Samuel Pepys, June 1667
  • Das Mannweib, an amazon or virago, is a neutered female. —  VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol X No 2
  • This other Pallas—the word itself can be accented to have a feminine or masculine meaning in our language, but here it is close to the Latin word virago, which means ‘strong virgin’—had been killed in a sham fight with Athena. —  Dan Simmons - Hockenberry 1 - Ilium
  • At that time a virago was a woman who, by her courage, understanding, and attainments, raised herself above the masses of her sex. —  Lucretia Borgia According to Original Documents and Correspondence of Her Day
 

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Stats

Virago has been looked up 392 times, favorited 4 times, listed 59 times, commented on 3 times, and has a Scrabble score of 10.

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View all »Etymologies (3)

American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin virāgō, from vir, man; see wī-ro- in Indo-European roots.

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Pronunciations

/ (və-räˈgō, -rāˈ-, vîrˈə-gōˌ)/
ahd pronounces "virago"
by American Heritage Dictionary

Charts

Occurrences of the word "virago" per million words:

Chart?cht=lc&chs=300x180&chg=14

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