Evolution Of The Word Virgin

Evolution Of The Word Virgin

From Michael Kirtland:
I have heard that the word virgin suffered a change of context/meaning in the 1300's; that, prior to this time it had been a synonym of "virtuous" or "good" and had no direct tie to sexual purity. This would be consistent with the early renaissance advent of the Virgin Mary's immaculate conception. If true, it would be fascinating to investigate whether or not this etymological evolution is in fact the cornerstone to an entire religion - Catholicism.
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The term Virgin Mary first appears in writing in about 1300. Virgin alone originally meant "a pious, unmarried or chaste woman" since about 1200, and by 1300 it meant also "a woman in a state of inviolate chastity". It appears that the Virgin Mary was so dubbed after the change in the word's meaning.

We would not say that the notion of a virgin birth is the cornerstone of Catholicism by any means, but it certainly does play a large role in the Church.