Part 3617

<hw>Ef*fem"i*na*cy</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Effeminacies</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[From <er>Effeminate</er>.]</ety> <def>Characteristic quality of a woman, such as softness, luxuriousness, delicacy, or weakness, which is unbecoming a man; womanish delicacy or softness; -- used reproachfully of men.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<h1>Effeminate</h1> <Xpage=472>

<hw>Ef*fem"i*nate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>effeminatus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>effeminare</ets> to make a woman of; <ets>ex</ets> out + <ets>femina</ets> a woman. See <er>Feminine</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Having some characteristic of a woman, as delicacy, luxuriousness, etc.; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; womanish; weak.</def>

<blockquote>The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became <b>effeminate</b>, and less sensible of honor. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>An <b>effeminate</b> and unmanly foppery. <i>Bp. Hurd.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Womanlike; womanly; tender; -- in a good sense.</def>

<blockquote>Gentle, kind, <b>effeminate</b> remorse. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; <i>Effeminate</i> and <i>womanish</i> are generally used in a reproachful sense; <i>feminine</i> and <i>womanly</i>, applied to women, are epithets of propriety or commendation.</note>

<h1>Effeminate</h1> <Xpage=472>

<hw>Ef*fem"i*nate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Effeminated</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Effeminating</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <def>To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken.</def>

<blockquote>It will not corrupt or <b>effeminate</b> children's minds. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Effeminate</h1> <Xpage=472>

<hw>Ef*fem"i*nate</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To grow womanish or weak.</def>

<blockquote>In a slothful peace both courage will <b>effeminate</b> and manners corrupt. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Effeminately</h1> <Xpage=472>

<hw>Ef*fem"i*nate*ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In an effeminate or womanish manner; weakly; softly; delicately.</def> "Proud and <i>effeminately</i> gay."

<i>Fawkes.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>By means of a woman; by the power or art of a woman.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark> "<i>Effeminately</i> vanquished."

<i>Milton.</i>

<h1>Effeminateness</h1> <Xpage=472>

<hw>Ef*fem"i*nate*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state of being effeminate; unmanly softness.</def>

<i>Fuller.</i>

<h1>Effemination</h1> <Xpage=472>

<hw>Ef*fem`i*na"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>effeminatio</ets>.]</ety> <def>Effeminacy; womanishness.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<h1>Effeminize</h1> <Xpage=472>