effeminate
adj.
lacking manly qualities, overly feminine (especially about a man)
Effeminacy
Effeminacy is a trait in males that generally contradicts traditional male (
masculine)
gender roles. It is a term frequently applied to
femininity; or womanly behaviour, demeanour, and appearance displayed by a man. Generally, the description is applied to individuals, but may be used to describe entire societies as an inflammatory allegation. Although in the Western tradition, as described below, effeminacy has often been considered a
vice, indicative of other negative character
traits and often involving a pejorative insinuation of
homosexual tendencies, in other societies men who do not conform to male gender roles may have a special social function, as is the case of
Two-Spirits in some Native American groups. Furthermore, in contemporary culture, effeminacy has come to be seen by some to be simply one
characteristic or trait which might be a part of a particular person's "gender role", and in this sense would not be considered a vice or indicative of any other characteristics. An effeminate man is similar to a
Fop or a
Dandy, though these tend to be archaic identities that are taken on by the individual rather than insulting labels.
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effeminate
Adjective
1. having unsuitable feminine qualities
(synonym) emasculate, epicene, cissy, sissified, sissyish, sissy
(similar) unmanly, unmanful, unmanlike
2. characterized by excessive softness or self-indulgence; "an effeminate civilization"
(synonym) weak
(similar) soft
effeminare
v.
emasculate, castrate
effeminato
adj.
effeminate, cissy, emasculate
Effeminate
(v. t.)
To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken.
(v. i.)
To grow womanish or weak.
(a.)
Womanlike; womanly; tender; -- in a good sense.
(a.)
Having some characteristic of a woman, as delicacy, luxuriousness, etc.; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; womanish; weak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter.
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