Virginia
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /vɚˈd͡ʒɪn.jə/
Forms: form: Virginias
Etymology: From Latin Virginia, feminine form of Virginius or Verginius, a Roman family name, possibly identical with Vergilius. The state/colony was named for Elizabeth I as the Virgin Queen, equivalent to virgin + -ia.
Senses: examples: text: We, whose names are underwritten, the loyall Subjects of our dread Soveraigne Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the glorie of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and the honor of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colonie in the Northerne parts of Virginia; doe by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civill Body politike, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid:[...]
ref: 1622 [1620], “Mayflower Compact”, in Purchas His Pilgrimes, page 313:
text: And on March 21, Virginia passed a law banning colorants from school food, effective July 1, 2027.
ref: 2025 March 29, Kristen Rogers, “Over half of US states are trying to eliminate food dyes. Here’s what you can do now”, in CNN:
text: Resendiz was last seen on May 29 in her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk, according to a missing person’s alert issued by Virginia State Police on June 3.
ref: 2025 June 13, Rosa Flores, “Missing Navy sailor found dead in Virginia, another sailor in custody”, in CNN:
synonyms: Old Dominion
State of Virginia
VA
Va.
Virg.
glosses: A state of the United States. Official name: Commonwealth of Virginia. Capital: Richmond.
glosses: A former colony that was a part of the British Empire.
topics: astronomy
natural-sciences
glosses: 50 Virginia, a main belt asteroid.
examples: text: 1380s-1390s, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: The Physician's Tale
"Daughter," quoth he, "Virginia by thy name, / There be two wayes, either death or shame, / That thou must suffer, - alas that I was bore!
text: Here, in due time, she was brought to bed of a daughter, whom she christened by the name of Virginia; not so much out of respect to her last mistress, who bore that name, as because she considered it peculiarly ladylike and genteel.
ref: 1840, Frederick Marryat, chapter III, in Poor Jack:
text: O sweet Virginia Dare! / Thou art the lily of our love, / The forest's sylph-like queen, / The first-born bud from Saxon stem / That this New World hath seen!
ref: 1854, Lydia Howard Sigourney, The Western Home, and Other Poems, Parry & McMillan, published 1854, page 87:
text: She said her name was Virginia Severson. It suited her. She looked very virginal, and clean, calm, cool in a Scandinavian sort of way.
ref: 1956, Charlotte Armstrong, A Dram of Poison, Coward-McCann, pages 164–165:
text: The city of Waukesha confirmed the names of five victims as Virginia Sorenson, 79; Leanna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.
ref: 2022 October 26, Christina Zdanowicz, Claudia Dominguez, Lauren M. Johnson and Sara Smart, “The Waukesha victims included an 8-year-old boy, a loving grandmother and a woman excited to make her debut in the Dancing Grannies”, in CNN:
glosses: A female given name from Latin.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A town, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A community in the town of Georgina, Ontario, Canada.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A municipality of Lempira department, Honduras.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A town in County Cavan, Ireland.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A suburb of Monrovia, Liberia.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A gold mining town in the Free State, South Africa.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
The former name of an unincorporated community in Placer County, California, now Virginiatown.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A city, the county seat of Cass County, Illinois, United States.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
An unincorporated community in Bates County, Missouri, United States.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A village in Gage County, Nebraska, United States.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A barangay of Santo Niño, Cagayan, Philippines.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A barangay of Laua-an, Antique, Philippines.
glosses: Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
A barangay of Culaba, Biliran, Philippines.
Synonyms: topics: astronomy
natural-sciences
word: 50 Virginia
topics: astronomy
natural-sciences
word: ㊿
Derived terms: Colony and Dominion of Virginia
Colony of Virginia
Delmarva
house in Virginia
make a Virginia fence
New Virginia
Northern Virginia
VA
Virginia Beach
Virginia bluebell
Virginia City
Virginia cowslip
Virginia creeper
Virginia creeper sphinx
Virginia fence
Virginian
Virginia nightingale
Virginia pennywort
Virginia possum
Virginia quail
Virginia rail
Virginia rail fence
Virginia reel
Virginia stock
Virginia Water
West Virginia
yes, Virginia
Related terms: sense: given name diminutives
word: Ginny
word: Ginger