fæmne

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Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-West Germanic *faimnijā (girl), related to (but not directly cognate with) Old Saxon fēmea, fēhmia, West Frisian faam, Icelandic feima (maiden). Unrelated to Latin fēmina (female, woman), and probably also to Latin famula (female servant).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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fǣmne f

  1. virgin
  2. young woman

Usage notes

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  • Though this word is the normal Early West Saxon word for "virgin," the normal EWS word for "virginity" is not fǣmnhād but mæġeþhād.

Declension

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Derived terms

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