virile
pronunciation
How to pronounce virile in British English:
UK [ˈvɪraɪl]
How to pronounce virile in American English:
US [ˈvɪrəl]
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- Adjective:
- characterized by energy and vigor
- characteristic of a man
- (of a male) able to copulate
Word Origin
- virile (adj.)
- late 15c., "characteristic of a man; marked by manly force," from Middle French viril (14c.) and directly from Latin virilis "of a man, manly, worthy of a man," from vir "a man, a hero," from PIE *wi-ro- "man, freeman" (cognates: Sanskrit virah, Avestan vira-, Lithuanian vyras, Old Irish fer, Welsh gwr, Gothic wair, Old English wer "man"). Virile member for "penis" is recorded from 1540s.
Antonym
Example
- 1. She likes her men young and virile .
- 2. If you have got lots of wives you have to keep healthy and virile .
- 3. Africa is one of the continents with highest competition but south africans seem to find the right balance : muscular , powerful , virile , brave ......
- 4. In this role , durante is able to give full expression to that wonderfully virile voice .
- 5. The qualities in it that strike me today are its cheerful vigor , its clearness of form , its virile force and freedom , and the extraordinary healthiness of the hero , and , indeed , of the whole work .