Word of the Day - 12/12/25
virago
/vɪ'reɪɡoʊ/(n.): a woman of great stature, strength, and courage
In the play, the queen appears as a virago, commanding respect and fear in equal measure.
(n.): a noisy, scolding, or domineering woman
The old librarian was a fearsome virago, keeping the students in line with a sharp glare.
Word Origin
The word 'virago' originates from Latin. It is derived from the Latin word 'virago', which means 'heroic woman', 'man-like woman', or 'female warrior'. It comes from 'vir' meaning 'man' (as in a male human being) combined with the suffix '-ago', which is often used to form nouns, sometimes with a pejorative sense in later usage, but originally just indicating a type of person.
Words with similar origins include 'virile' (from Latin 'virilis', meaning 'of a man', from 'vir'), and 'virtue' (from Latin 'virtus', originally meaning 'manliness', 'courage', 'valor', from 'vir'). The element 'vir' is also seen in words like 'triumvirate' (a group of three men).