effeminate

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“
The adjectives and derivatives based on woman's distinctions are alien and derogatory when applied to human affairs; "effeminate"--too female, connotes contempt, but has no masculine analogue; whereas "emasculate"--not enough male, is a term of reproach, and has no feminine analogue.

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Definitions (12)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. adjective Having qualities or characteristics more often associated with women than men. See Synonyms at female.
  2. adjective Characterized by weakness and excessive refinement.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (6)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (3)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples (50)

  • It was startlingly effeminate, almost an engagement ring. —  DearlyDevotedDexter
  • That which is soft and effeminate, which is calculated to excite the passions, by multitudes of ambiguous expressions, (not the less dangerous for being so cloaked) should be considered by Christians as an abuse the more deplorable, as it has even been censured and condemned by the pagans. —  The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of Assisi
  • At first I thought him effeminate, and did not like him, but his tender ways with my sick boys, the efficacy of his prescriptions, and his careful orders as to diet quite won me over. —  Memories
  • The other has a maniacal, effeminate, and outspoken child molester, burned alive at the hands of angry parents, and who vows to forever torment their children in their sleep. —  GreenCine Daily
  • For instance, the King James Version uses the term effeminate which is an offensive term to describe a man whose behavior, appearance or speech is considered to be more similar to that of females.
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Related

Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

indolent ·  licentious ·  frivolous ·  womanish ·  cowardly ·  languid ·  effete ·  irresolute ·  corrupt ·  timorous ·  voluptuous ·  timid
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English effeminat, from Latin effēminātus, past participle of effēmināre, to make feminine : ex-, ex- + fēmina, woman; see dhē(i)- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. from Latin effeminatus, past participle of effeminare (later Italian effemminare, effeminare = Spanish efeminar(obsolete) = Portuguese effeminar = Provencal efeminar = French efféminer), make womanish, from ex, out, + femina, a woman: see feminine.
  2. = French efféminé = Portuguese effeminado = Italian effemminato, effeminato, from Latin effeminatus, past participle: see the verb.
 

Pronunciations
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/ɛˈfɛmɪnət/
by American Heritage

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