Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Effeminate
Ef-fem′i-nate
,Adj.
[L. ]
effeminatus
, p. p. of effeminare
to make a woman of; ex
out + femina
a woman. See Feminine
, Adj.
1.
Having some characteristic of a woman, as delicacy, luxuriousness, etc.; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; womanish; weak.
The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became
effeminate
, and less sensible of honor. Bacon.
An
effeminate
and unmanly foppery. Bp. Hurd.
2.
Womanlike; womanly; tender; – in a good sense.
Gentle, kind,
effeminate
remorse. Shakespeare
☞ Effeminate and womanish are generally used in a reproachful sense; feminine and womanly, applied to women, are epithets of propriety or commendation.
Ef-fem′i-nate
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Effeminated
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Effeminating
.] To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken.
It will not corrupt or
effeminate
children’s minds. Locke.
Ef-fem′i-nate
,Verb.
I.
To grow womanish or weak.
In a slothful peace both courage will
effeminate
and manners corrupt. Pope.
Webster 1828 Edition
Effeminate
EFFEM'INATE
,Adj.
1.
Having the qualities of the female sex; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; tender; womanish; voluptuous.The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became effeminate, and less sensible of honor.
2.
Womanish; weak; resembling the practice or qualities of the sex; as an effeminate peace; an effeminate life.3.
Womanlike, tender, in a sense not reproachful.EFFEM'INATE
,Verb.
T.
EFFEM'INATE
,Verb.
I.
In a slothful peace courage will effeminate.
Definition 2024
effeminate
effeminate
English
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
Synonyms
Translations
of a man, behaving like a woman
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|
Verb
effeminate (third-person singular simple present effeminates, present participle effeminating, simple past and past participle effeminated)
- (archaic) To make womanly; to unman.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: 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.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.134:
Related terms
Latin
Verb
effēmināte
- second-person plural present active imperative of effēminō
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
- Félix Gaffiot (1934), “effeminate”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.