| effeminate | 1. Having some characteristic of a woman, as delicacy, luxuriousness, etc.; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; womanish; weak. "The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became effeminate, and less sensible of honor." (Bacon) "An effeminate and unmanly foppery." (Bp. Hurd) 2. Womanlike; womanly; tender; in a good sense. "Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse." (Shak) Effeminate and womanish are generally used in a reproachful sense; feminine and womanly, applied to women, are epithets of propriety or commendation. Origin: L. Effeminatus, p. P. Of effeminare to make a woman of; ex out + femina a woman. See Feminine. To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken. "It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds." (Locke) Origin: Effeminated; Effeminating. To grow womanish or weak. "In a slothful peace both courage will effeminate and manners corrupt." (Pope) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| effeminately | 1. In an effeminate or womanish manner; weakly; softly; delicately. "Proud and effeminately gay." 2. By means of a woman; by the power or art of a woman. "Effeminately vanquished." Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |