effeminate



From 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.
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         It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds.
                                                  --Locke.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Effeminate \Ef*fem"i*nate\, v. i.
   To grow womanish or weak.
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         In a slothful peace both courage will effeminate and
         manners corrupt.                         --Pope.
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From 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.
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            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.
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