• (adjective) IPA: /ɪˈfɛmɪnət/
• (verb) IPA: /ɪˈfɛmɪneɪt/

effeminate

1. (often, derogatory, of a man or boy) Exhibiting behaviour or mannerisms considered typical of a female; unmasculine.

   • An effeminate and unmanly foppery.

2. (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.

• camp, swish, epicene, effete, unmanly

• 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)

1. (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.

2. (intransitive) To become womanly.

effeminate (plural effeminates)

1. An effeminate person.
   • 1976, Psychiatry (volumes 39-40, page 246)

     The effeminates are males with obviously recognizable traits and mannerisms; […]

• effeminacy