Pronunciation Adjective
effeminate
- (often, derogatory, of a man or boy) Exhibiting behaviour or mannerisms considered typical of a female; unmasculine.
- An effeminate and unmanly foppery.
- (obsolete) Womanly; tender, affectionate, caring.
- c. 1593, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene vii]:
- Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse.
- uneffeminate, noneffeminate, non-effeminate
- French: efféminé, efféminée
- German: weibisch, tuntig, effeminiert, verweichlicht, verweiblicht
- Italian: effemminato
- Portuguese: afeminado, efeminado, mulheril, adamado, amulherado, afemeado, amaricado, dengoso, inviril, mulherengo, amulherengado, paneleiro, apaneleirado, maricas, mariconço, bicha, abichanado, larilas, panilas, enerve
- Russian: женоподо́бный
- Spanish: afeminado, amanerado, amujerado, ahembrado, adamado, mujeril, amariconado
effeminate (effeminates, present participle effeminating; past and past participle effeminated)
- (transitive, archaic) To make womanly; to unman.
- 1603, Michel de Montaigne, John Florio, transl., The Essayes, […], printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821 ↗:, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.134:
- the studie of sciences doth more weaken and effeminate mens minds, than corroborate and adapt them to warre.
- 1693, [John Locke], “§106”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], OCLC 1161614482 ↗:
- It will not corrupt or effeminate their [children's] minds.
- (intransitive) To become womanly.
effeminate (plural effeminates)
- An effeminate person.
- 1976, Psychiatry (volumes 39-40, page 246)
- The effeminates are males with obviously recognizable traits and mannerisms; […]
- 1976, Psychiatry (volumes 39-40, page 246)
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