Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - vestal

adj. & n. --adj. 1 chaste, pure. 2 of or relating to the Roman goddess Vesta. --n. 1 a chaste woman, esp. a nun. 2 Rom. Antiq. a vestal virgin. Phrases and idioms vestal virgin Rom. Antiq. a virgin consecrated to Vesta and vowed to chastity, who shared the charge of maintaining the sacred fire burning on the goddess's altar. Etymology: ME f. L vestalis (adj. & n.) (as VESTA)