Virilitas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term that describes male strength or potency, often linked to physical prowess and virility in biological contexts
2. Referring to the quality of manliness or masculinity, characterized by vitality and vigor associated with male attributes
3. Denoting the state of being vigorous and manly, embodying the traits traditionally ascribed to masculinity and male energy

Etymology: Virilitas is the Latin noun from which English "virility" descends, and it meant manliness in the broad sense, not just physical strength. The Romans built it from "vir" (man, adult male), and the suffix "-itas" turns an adjective into a quality noun, much as "-ity" does in English. Its root is also behind "virtus," which is a useful surprise: the Latin word for courage, excellence and moral worth was closely tied to being a vir. Over time "virtus" came to mean virtue in the moral sense, while "virilitas" kept the focus on maleness itself. In Latin, "virilitas" was not limited to bodily force. Classical writers used it for the qualities expected of a grown man, including steadfastness, self-command and capacity for public responsibility. Later Latin, especially in medical and legal texts, narrowed it toward sexual maturity and reproductive capacity, which is why English "virility" carried those connotations for centuries, and why the modern sense of physical strength is one step removed from the Roman idea.

Synonyms: manliness, virility, masculinity

Antonyms: effeminacy, impotence