emasculate

[ verb ih-mas-kyuh-leyt; adjective ih-mas-kyuh-lit, -leyt ]
/ verb ɪˈmæs kyəˌleɪt; adjective ɪˈmæs kyə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

verb (used with object), e·mas·cu·lat·ed, e·mas·cu·lat·ing.

to castrate.
to deprive of strength or vigor; weaken.

adjective

deprived of or lacking strength or vigor; effeminate.

Origin of emasculate

1600–10; < Latin ēmasculātus (past participle of ēmasculāre), equivalent to ē- e-1 + māscul(us) male + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM emasculate

Example sentences from the Web for emasculate

British Dictionary definitions for emasculate

emasculate

verb (ɪˈmæskjʊˌleɪt) (tr)

to remove the testicles of; castrate; geld
to deprive of vigour, effectiveness, etc
botany to remove the stamens from (a flower) to prevent self-pollination for the purposes of plant breeding

adjective (ɪˈmæskjʊlɪt, -ˌleɪt)

castrated; gelded
deprived of strength, effectiveness, etc

Derived forms of emasculate

emasculation, noun emasculative or emasculatory, adjective emasculator, noun

Word Origin for emasculate

C17: from Latin ēmasculāre, from masculus male; see masculine