effeminate

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪˈfɛmɪnət/ See IPA manual

Freq #31513

Meanings

1

adj
Of a boy or man, exhibiting behavior or mannerisms considered typical of a woman or unmasculine.

An effeminate and unmanly foppery.
2

adj
Womanly; tender, affectionate, caring.

Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse.
3

verb
To make womanly; to unman.

The studie of sciences doth more weaken and effeminate mens minds, than corroborate and adapt them to warre.
4

noun
An effeminate person.

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

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

camp effeteepicenefeminine swish unmanly

Opposites

immasculatenon-effeminatenoneffeminateuneffeminate

Word family

Forms effeminacy

Derived forms effeminatelyeffeminatenesseffeminist

Etymology

From Middle English effeminat, effemynat, from Latin effēminātus, past participle of effēminō, from fēmina (“woman”).

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# effeminate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj, verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪˈfɛmɪnət/
**Frequency rank:** 31513

## Meanings
1. Of a boy or man, exhibiting behavior or mannerisms considered typical of a woman or unmasculine.
2. Womanly; tender, affectionate, caring.
3. To make womanly; to unman.
4. An effeminate person.

## Examples
- An effeminate and unmanly foppery.
- Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse.
- The studie of sciences doth more weaken and effeminate mens minds, than corroborate and adapt them to warre.
- The effeminates are males with obviously recognizable traits and mannerisms; […].

## Synonyms
- camp
- effete
- epicene
- feminine
- swish
- unmanly

## Antonyms
- immasculate
- non-effeminate
- noneffeminate
- uneffeminate

## Derived Forms
- effeminately
- effeminateness
- effeminist

## Etymology
From Middle English effeminat, effemynat, from Latin effēminātus, past participle of effēminō, from fēmina (“woman”).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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