- effeminate
- (of a male) homosexualLiterally, having the characteristics of a woman:She wondered for a moment if he might be what people called effeminate. (Follett, 1978)
How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. R. W. Holder. 2014.
effeminate
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Effeminate — Ef*fem i*nate, a. [L. effeminatus, p. p. of effeminare to make a woman of; ex out + femina a woman. See {Feminine}, a.] 1. Having some characteristic of a woman, as delicacy, luxuriousness, etc.; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; womanish;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Effeminate — Ef*fem i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Effeminated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Effeminating}.] To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken. [1913 Webster] It will not corrupt or effeminate children s minds. Locke. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Effeminate — Ef*fem i*nate, v. i. To grow womanish or weak. [1913 Webster] In a slothful peace both courage will effeminate and manners corrupt. Pope. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
effeminate — early 15c., from L. effeminatus womanish, effeminate, pp. of effeminare make a woman of, from ex out (see EX (Cf. ex )) + femina woman (see FEMININE (Cf. feminine)). Rarely used without reproach. Related: Effeminately … Etymology dictionary
effeminate — [e fem′ə nit, ifem′ə nit] adj. [ME effeminat < L effeminatus pp. of effeminare, to make womanish < ex , out + femina, a woman: see FEMALE] 1. having the qualities generally attributed to women, as weakness, timidity, delicacy, etc.;… … English World dictionary
effeminate — adj womanish, womanlike, womanly, feminine, *female, ladylike Analogous words: emasculated, enervated, unmanned (see UNNERVE): epicene (see BISEXUAL): *soft, mild, gentle, lenient, bland: pampered, indulged, humored, mollycoddled (see INDULGE)… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
effeminate — [adj] having female qualities epicene, feminine, womanish, womanlike, womanly; concepts 401,404 Ant. manly, masculine … New thesaurus
effeminate — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ (of a man) having characteristics regarded as typical of a woman. DERIVATIVES effeminacy noun effeminately adverb. ORIGIN from Latin effeminare make feminine … English terms dictionary
effeminate — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin effeminatus, from past participle of effeminare to make effeminate, from ex + femina woman more at feminine Date: 15th century 1. having feminine qualities untypical of a man ; not manly in… … New Collegiate Dictionary
effeminate — [[t]ɪfe̱mɪnət[/t]] ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you describe a man or boy as effeminate, you think he behaves, looks, or sounds like a woman or girl. ...a skinny, effeminate guy in lipstick and earrings... His voice was curiously high pitched,… … English dictionary
effeminate — effeminately, adv. effeminateness, n. effemination, n. adj. /i fem euh nit/; v. /i fem euh nayt /, adj., v., effeminated, effeminating. adj. 1. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness… … Universalium
