1. the quality of being modest, pure, or virginal in manner or appearance
Usage: archaic; formal

Examples

• The Victorian era prized maidenliness as an ideal feminine virtue.
• Her maidenliness was evident in her shy demeanor and conservative dress.
• The novel’s heroine embodied the maidenliness expected of young women of her time.
• Critics argued that such emphasis on maidenliness restricted women’s freedom.
• The painting captured the subject’s maidenliness through soft colors and gentle expression.