virginal

adj 1: characteristic of a virgin or virginity; "virginal white

dresses"

2: untouched or undefiled; "nor is there anything more virginal

than the shimmer of young foliage"- L.P.Smith

3: in a state of sexual virginity; "pure and vestal modesty";

"a spinster or virgin lady"; "men have decreed that their

women must be pure and virginal" [syn: {pure}, {vestal}, {virgin},

{virtuous}]

n : a legless rectangular harpsichord; played (usually by women)

in the 16th and 17th centuries [syn: {pair of virginals}]

marginal

1. Extremely small. "A marginal increase in {core}

can decrease {GC} time drastically." In everyday terms, this

means that it is a lot easier to clean off your desk if you

have a spare place to put some of the junk while you sort

through it.

2. Of extremely small merit. "This proposed new feature seems

rather marginal to me."

3. Of extremely small probability of {win}ning. "The power

supply was rather marginal anyway; no wonder it fried."

[{Jargon File}]

(1994-10-21)