maydenhede

== Middle English == === Alternative forms === maidenhed, maidenhede, maidenhod, maydenhod, maydenhode, maydenhood maidanhod, maidenhad, maiden-had, meidenhad, meidenhod (Early Middle English); maȝȝdennhad (Ormulum) madened, madenhod, madunhede, maydenhed, maydenheed, maydynhed (Late Middle English) maidenhiede (Gower); maiden-hedd, maydynhede (Northern); maiden-hod, maidenot, maydinhode, maydinhood (Southern) === Etymology === Inherited from Old English mæġdenhād; by surface analysis, mayden (“maiden, virgin woman”) +‎ -hede (“-hood”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈmæi̯dənˌhɛ̝ːd(ə)/, /ˈmæi̯dənˌhɔ̝ːd(ə)/ === Noun === maydenhede (uncountable) Virginity, maidenhood (usually of a woman; especially due to celibacy) (rare) Girlhood; the state or quality of being a young woman or girl. (rare, figuratively) The first use of something. ==== Descendants ==== English: maidenhood; maidenhead Middle Scots: madinheid ==== References ==== “maidenhēde, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.