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Virgin

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A person who has not had sexual intercourse, often symbolizing purity, consecration, and a vessel chosen for a divine purpose.

Detailed Definition
The Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the preeminent example in Christianity, representing perfect obedience and purity. Vestal Virgins in Rome served the goddess Vesta. In poetry, the virgin symbolizes a state of spiritual integrity, wholeness, and readiness to be filled by the divine. It can represent the soul untainted by worldly attachments, the pristine mind, or the condition of being set apart for a sacred task. The image often carries a sense of potential, a sacred emptiness awaiting a holy fulfillment.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Christian poetry, Virgin (Mary) is humble vessel: “Let it be—Virgin, who said yes to mystery”; In Hindu verse, Virgin (Kanya) is purity of intent: “Unmarried goddess—Virgin energy, fierce and free”; In contemporary poetry, Virgin is reclaimed: “Not innocence—Virgin as autonomy, choice”; Poets critique Virgin ideal: “Why must worth be tied to body’s history?”
Additional Notes
The Virgin, especially Mary in Christianity, embodies purity, obedience, and divine election; in broader religious symbolism, virginity signifies undivided devotion and readiness to receive the sacred; poets may use virgin imagery not literally but as a metaphor for uncorrupted intention, spiritual receptivity, or the soul’s preparedness to bear divine mystery.
Also Known As
Theotokos Madonna Virgin Mary
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