virile

virile (ˈvɪraɪl)

—*adj*
1.	of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an adult male
2.	(of a male) possessing high sexual drive and capacity for sexual intercourse
3.	of or capable of copulation or procreation
4.	strong, forceful, or vigorous

[C15: from Latin virīlis manly, from vir a man; related to Old English wer man and probably to Latin vis strength]

virility

—n

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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

virile

late 15c., from O.Fr. viril, from L. virilis "of a man, manly," from vir "a man, a hero," from PIE *uiHro "freeman" (cf. Skt. virah, Avestan vira-, Lith. vyras, O.Ir. fer, Welsh gwr, Goth. wair, O.E. wer "man"). Virile member for "penis" is recorded from 1540s.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

virile vir·ile (vēr'əl, -īl')
adj.

Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an adult male, especially the ability to perform sexually as a male.
Having or showing masculine spirit, strength, vigor, or power.
Sexually potent.

Example sentences

The experience introduced to the public those virile qualities of his with which his friends were familiar.

Church's desire to paint more fascinating scenes reflected his virile character.

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Matching Quote

"Often, while contemplating works of art, not in their easily perceptible materiality, in the too-clear hieroglyphs of their contours or the obvious meaning of their subject, but in the soul with which they are endowed, in the atmospheric impression that they convey, in the spiritual light or darkness which they pour into our souls, I have felt entering into me a kind of vision of the childhood of their creators. Some little sorrow, some small pleasure of the child, inordinately inflated by an exquisite sensibility, become later on in the adult man, even without his knowing it, the basis of a work of art.... Genius is nothing but childhood clearly formulated, newly endowed with virile and powerful means of self-expression."

-Charles Baudelaire