1.
[syn: effeminate, emasculate, epicene, cissy, sissified, sissyish, sissy]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Effeminate \Ef*fem"i*nate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effeminated;
p. pr. & vb. n. Effeminating.]
To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken.
[1913 Webster]
It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds.
--Locke.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Effeminate \Ef*fem"i*nate\, v. i.
To grow womanish or weak.
[1913 Webster]
In a slothful peace both courage will effeminate and
manners corrupt. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Effeminate \Ef*fem"i*nate\, a. [L. effeminatus, p. p. of
effeminare to make a woman of; ex out + femina a woman. See
Feminine, a.]
1. Having some characteristic of a woman, as delicacy,
luxuriousness, etc.; soft or delicate to an unmanly
degree; womanish; weak.
[1913 Webster]
The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage,
became effeminate, and less sensible of honor.
--Bacon.
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An effeminate and unmanly foppery. --Bp. Hurd.
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2. Womanlike; womanly; tender; -- in a good sense.
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Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse. --Shak.
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Note: Effeminate and womanish are generally used in a
reproachful sense; feminine and womanly, applied to
women, are epithets of propriety or commendation.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
effeminate
adj 1: having unsuitable feminine qualities [syn: effeminate,
emasculate, epicene, cissy, sissified,
sissyish, sissy]