Usage note:The few English words that end in
-enne, indicating the feminine counterpart of a traditionally masculine term ending in
-en or
-an, usually carry little implication of inferiority. Many women, however, prefer that no distinction be made and that, as with other gender-specific words, the terms once reserved for males be applied to males and females alike. English is quite inconsistent in adopting such feminine nouns.
Equestrian has the form
equestrienne; pedestrian has no corresponding feminine term. Although we have both
comedienne and
tragedienne, there is no feminine variant for
thespian. See also -ess, -ette, -trix. 
