Word Direct Answers

effeminate

effeminate is defined in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913) with 3 senses. The full text of each entry is reproduced verbatim below.

Definitions

  1. 1.Womanlike; womanly; tender; -- in a good sense. Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse. Shak. Note: Effeminate and womanish are generally used in a reproachful sense; feminine and womanly, applied to women, are epithets of propriety or commendation.
  2. 2.To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken. It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds. Locke.
  3. 3.To grow womanish or weak. In a slothful peace both courage will effeminate and manners corrupt. Pope.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is effeminate.

Sources