Hymen

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈhaɪmən/

Definitions

1. A thin membrane situated at the vaginal entrance that can symbolize virginity and may be stretched during intercourse or other physical actions
2. A flexible tissue that partially covers the vaginal opening and varies in size, often linked to sexual experience and bodily functions
3. A delicate membrane located at the entrance of the vagina that is often associated with notions of purity and can be altered through various activities

Etymology: The Greek word "humen" originally meant simply "skin" or "membrane," and the anatomical sense was not its only ancient use. In Greek, it was also the name of the god of marriage ceremonies, Hymen, who was invoked in wedding songs, so the membrane was named after a word already tied to the marriage bed. The Greek noun reached English by way of Late Latin "hymen" and Middle French, which is why the word arrived with its physical meaning intact. Its sense has stayed narrow and concrete for centuries. The membrane took its name from the body part's role in a physical skin-like covering, and the marital association stuck to the word through the god's name rather than through the anatomy itself. Today the term is used almost exclusively in medical and biological contexts, while the mythological Hymen survives mainly in classical literature.