effeminate

[ adjective ih-fem-uh-nit; verb ih-fem-uh-neyt ]
/ adjective ɪˈfɛm ə nɪt; verb ɪˈfɛm əˌneɪt /

adjective

(of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.
characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc.: effeminate luxury.

verb (used with or without object), ef·fem·i·nat·ed, ef·fem·i·nat·ing.

to make or become effeminate.

Origin of effeminate

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin effēminātus, equivalent to ef- ef- + fēmin(a) woman + -ātus -ate1

SYNONYMS FOR effeminate

1 See female.

OTHER WORDS FROM effeminate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH effeminate

effeminate effete feminine womanish womanly (see synonym study at womanly)

Words nearby effeminate

effects, effectual, effectually, effectuate, effeminacy, effeminate, effemination, effeminize, effendi, efferent, efferent duct

Example sentences from the Web for effemination

British Dictionary definitions for effemination

effeminate
/ (ɪˈfɛmɪnɪt) /

adjective

(of a man or boy) displaying characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; not manly
lacking firmness or vigour an effeminate piece of writing

Derived forms of effeminate

effeminacy or effeminateness, noun effeminately, adverb

Word Origin for effeminate

C14: from Latin effēmināre to make into a woman, from fēmina woman

Medical definitions for effemination

effemination
[ ĭ-fĕm′ə-nā′shən ]

n.

The acquisition of feminine characteristics, either physiologically by women, or pathologically by persons of either sex.