effeminate

[ adjective ih-fem-uh-nit; verb ih-fem-uh-neyt ]
See synonyms for effeminate on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.

  2. characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc.: effeminate luxury.

verb (used with or without object),ef·fem·i·nat·ed, ef·fem·i·nat·ing.
  1. to make or become effeminate.

Origin of effeminate

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English effeminat, from Latin effēmināt-, past participle stem of effēmināre “to make feminine,” equivalent to ef- ef- + fēmin(a) “woman” + -āre infinitive suffix

synonym study For effeminate

1. See female.

Other words from effeminate

  • ef·fem·i·nate·ly, adverb
  • ef·fem·i·nate·ness, noun
  • ef·fem·i·na·tion, noun
  • un·ef·fem·i·nate, adjective
  • un·ef·fem·i·nate·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with effeminate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for effeminate

effeminate

/ (ɪˈfɛmɪnɪt) /


adjective
  1. (of a man or boy) displaying characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; not manly

  2. lacking firmness or vigour: an effeminate piece of writing

Origin of effeminate

1
C14: from Latin effēmināre to make into a woman, from fēmina woman

Derived forms of effeminate

  • effeminacy or effeminateness, noun
  • effeminately, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012