EFFEMINATE

effeminate, emasculate, epicene, cissy, sissified, sissyish, sissy

(adjective) having unsuitable feminine qualities

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

effeminate (comparative more effeminate, superlative most effeminate)

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

(obsolete) Womanly; tender, affectionate, caring.

Synonyms

• camp, swish, epicene, effete, unmanly

Antonyms

• uneffeminate, noneffeminate, non-effeminate

Verb

effeminate (third-person singular simple present effeminates, present participle effeminating, simple past and past participle effeminated)

(transitive, archaic) To make womanly; to unman.

(intransitive) To become womanly.

Noun

effeminate (plural effeminates)

An effeminate person.

Source: Wiktionary

Ef*fem"i*nate, a. Etym: [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.

Ef*fem"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effeminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Effeminating.]

Definition: To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken. It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds. Locke.

Ef*fem"i*nate, v. i.

Definition: To grow womanish or weak. In a slothful peace both courage will effeminate and manners corrupt. Pope.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition