emasculate

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈmæs.kjəˌleɪt/ UK /ɪˈmask.jʊlˌeɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #75563

Meanings

1

verb
to deprive a person, institution, or measure of strength, power, or effectiveness

The final amendment would emasculate the regulator by removing its enforcement powers.
2

verb
to castrate a male person or animal

Historically, farmers would emasculate some male livestock to make them easier to manage.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to deprive a person,... weaken enfeeble gut

2 verb · to castrate a male person... castrate geld

Opposites

strengthen empower

Word family

Forms emasculatedemasculation

Derived forms emasculatedemasculationemasculator

Related forms castrate enervate masculine

Etymology

From Medieval Latin emasculare 'to emasculate', formed from e- or ex- 'out, away' + masculus 'male, masculine', itself related to Latin mas 'male'. The figurative sense extends physical castration to the removal of power or effectiveness.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# emasculate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈmæs.kjəˌleɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪˈmask.jʊlˌeɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 75563

## Meanings
1. to deprive a person, institution, or measure of strength, power, or effectiveness
2. to castrate a male person or animal

## Examples
- The final amendment would emasculate the regulator by removing its enforcement powers.
- Historically, farmers would emasculate some male livestock to make them easier to manage.

## Synonyms
- weaken
- enfeeble
- castrate
- geld

## Antonyms
- strengthen
- empower

## Derived Forms
- emasculated
- emasculation
- emasculator

## Related Forms
- castrate
- enervate
- masculine

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin emasculare 'to emasculate', formed from e- or ex- 'out, away' + masculus 'male, masculine', itself related to Latin mas 'male'. The figurative sense extends physical castration to the removal of power or effectiveness.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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