effeminate
English
Etymology
From Latin effēminātus, past participle of effēminō, from fēmina (“woman”).
Pronunciation
- (adjective): IPA(key): /ɪˈfɛmɪnət/
- (verb): IPA(key): /ɪˈfɛmɪneɪt/
Adjective
effeminate (comparative more effeminate, superlative most effeminate)
- (often derogatory, of a man or boy) Exhibiting behaviour or mannerisms considered typical of a female; unmasculine.
- Bishop Hurd
- An effeminate and unmanly foppery.
- Bishop Hurd
- (obsolete) Womanly; tender, affectionate, caring.
- Shakespeare
- Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse.
- Shakespeare
Antonyms
Translations
of a man, behaving like a woman
|
|
Verb
effeminate (third-person singular simple present effeminates, present participle effeminating, simple past and past participle effeminated)
- (transitive, archaic) To make womanly; to unman.
- 1603, John Florio, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, […], printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.134:
- the studie of sciences doth more weaken and effeminate mens minds, than corroborate and adapt them to warre.
- John Locke
- It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds.
-
- (intransitive) To become womanly.
Noun
effeminate (plural effeminates)
- An effeminate person.
- 1976, Psychiatry (volumes 39-40, page 246)
- The effeminates are males with obviously recognizable traits and mannerisms; […]
- 1976, Psychiatry (volumes 39-40, page 246)
Italian
Latin
References
- effeminate in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- effeminate in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- effeminate in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.