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virago

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:13 pm
by Stargzer
Another bon mot from M. Irving:
virago

SYLLABICATION: vi·ra·go
PRONUNCIATION: və-rä'gō, -rā'-, vîr'ə-gō'
(where ə is the elusive schwa)
NOUN: Inflected forms: pl. vi·ra·goes or vi·ra·gos
1. A woman regarded as noisy, scolding, or domineering. 2. A large, strong, courageous woman.
ETYMOLOGY: Latin virāgō, from vir, man. See wī-ro- in Appendix I.
OTHER FORMS: vi·ragi·nous (və-ră'jə-nəs) —ADJECTIVE

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
See termagant for a usage example.

Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:23 pm
by gailr
I was enchanted to see this word, gzer; thanks so ever for posting it!

I used to live in a city where the bitterness about a century-old immigrant labor strike against horrible working conditions had yet to fade for a surprising number of residents (descended from either side). At the time the local paper disparaged the women who took part in the strike as "virtual viragoes". My circle found this historical nugget hilarious, and still feel that "Virtual Viragoes" would be a great name for a rock band.

gailr
virtual virago wannabe