Dictionary Definition
virile adj
1 characterized by energy and vigor; "a virile
and ever stronger free society"; "a new and virile
leadership"
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Etymology
From virilisPronunciation
-
- Rhymes: -ɪrəl
Adjective
- Being manly; having characteristics associated with being male, such as strength; exhibiting masculine traits to an exaggerated degree such as strength, forcefulness or vigor.
Translations
masculine
- Catalan: viril
- Finnish: miehekäs, miehuullinen, viriili
- French: viril
- Latin: virilis
- Romanian: viril
- Spanish: viril
Derived terms
French
Adjective
virile- feminine of viril
Italian
Etymology
From virilisAdjective
Synonyms
Antonyms
Derived terms
Latin
Adjective
virīle- neuter of virilis
Romanian
Adjective
virileExtensive Definition
Virility refers to any of a wide range of
masculine
characteristics viewed positively. It is not applicable to women or to negative
characteristics. The Oxford
English Dictionary (OED1) says virile is "marked by strength or
force." Virility is commonly associated with vigour, health, sturdiness, and
constitution, especially in the fathering of children. In this last
sense, virility is to men as fertility is to women. OED1 also notes
an obsolete use of virile in this sense for a "nubile" young woman
— "a maide that is Mariageable or ripe for a Husband, or
Virill."
The word itself is derived from the Latin word vir
meaning simply "man" (in a gender specific sense). The German for
"virility" is Manneskraft — the strength of a man. Historically,
masculine attributes such as beard growth have been seen as signs
of virility and leadership (for example in ancient
Egypt and Rome).
As a term for positive reference, virility does
not accord with feminisms that put forward
various deconstructions of
masculinity. According to these points of view, virility is
redefined as an outdated abstraction, impacting negatively on women
via unwanted sexual activity, and unwanted pregnancies.
Compare with
Citations
References
virile in German: Manneskraft