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effeminate - 6 dictionary results
ef⋅fem⋅i⋅nate
[adj. i-fem-uh-nit; v. i-fem-uh-neyt]
adjective, verb, -nat⋅ed, -nat⋅ing.–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 object), verb (used without object)
| 3. | to make or become effeminate. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To effeminate
ef·fem·i·nate (ĭ-fěm'ə-nĭt) adj.
[Middle English effeminat, from Latin effēminātus, past participle of effēmināre, to make feminine : ex-, ex- + fēmina, woman; see dhē(i)- in Indo-European roots.] ef·fem'i·nate n., ef·fem'i·nate·ly adv., ef·fem'i·nate·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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; 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. --Shak. Note: Effeminate and womanish are generally used in a reproachful sense; feminine and womanly, applied to women, are epithets of propriety or commendation.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. It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds. --Locke.Effeminate
Ef*fem"i*nate\, v. i. To grow womanish or weak. In a slothful peace both courage will effeminate and manners corrupt. --Pope.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : effeminate
Spanish:
afeminado,
German:
weichlich,
Japanese:
めめしい
effeminate
c.1430, from L. effeminatus, pp. of effeminare "make a woman of," from ex- "out" + femina "woman" (see feminine). Rarely used without reproach.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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