[ad. L. effemināt-us, f. effeminā-re, f. ex out + fēmina woman.] A. adj.
1. Of persons: That has become like a woman: a. Womanish, unmanly, enervated, feeble; self-indulgent, voluptuous; unbecomingly delicate or over-refined. † b. (Cf. quot. 1609 in B.)
(The two first quots. may possibly belong to 3).
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, III. v. (1554), 77 a. It is … the most perilous thyng A prince to been of his condicion Effeminate.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), E viij. An effeminate persone neuer hathe spirite to any hie or noble dedes.
1549. Compl. Scot., xi. (1873), 25. Effemenet men sal be ther dominatours.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 50. The sclendernesse of theyr capacitie and effeminate hartes.
1625. K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, IV. xxii. 319. But a Souldier’s death shall make amends for thy effeminate life.
1748. Anson, Voy., II. xiv. (ed. 4), 386. A Luxurious and effeminate race.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., I. 107. This step … enabled the Germanic soldiers to compare themselves with the effeminate troops of the south.
absol. quasi-sb. 1609. Bible (Douay), Prov. xviii. 8. The soules of the effeminate shal be hungrie.
1692. Dryden, trans. St. Evremont’s Ess., 162. A softness, wherein for the most part languish the Effeminate.
b. Of things: Characterized by, or proceeding from, unmanly weakness, softness or delicacy.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 32. Effeminate gesture to rauish the sence.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iv. 107. Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace?
1685. Crowne, Sir C. Nice, V. 49. I scorn those effeminate revenges. If I hurt any man it shall be with my sword.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. 148. Rome was … humbled beneath the effeminate luxury of Oriental despotism.
1839. H. Rogers, Ess. (1874), II. iii. 149. They would sooner employ … the most effeminate circumlocution than resort to a … homely term or phrase.
† c. Without implying reproach: Gentle, tender, compassionate. Obs.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., 26. Their handes had no leasure to aske counsell of their effeminate eyes.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. vii. 211. We know your tenderness of heart, And gentle kinde effeminate remorse.
† d. Of music, odors, etc.: Soft, voluptuous. Obs.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., I. 52. The Ionick Mood was for more light and effeminate Musick.
1692. O. Walker, Greek & Rom. Hist. Illustr., 77. The Myrtle … because of its Effeminate smell [etc.].
¶ Used for: Feminine, characteristic of women.
1549. Olde, Erasm. Par. 1 Timothy ii. 9. Nowe let the women also praye after thexample of the men. Yf there be any effemynate affection [Lat. ‘Si quid est in animo muliebrium affectuum’] in their stomakes, let them caste it out.
† 2. Physically weak, ‘delicate.’ Obs.
1652. French, Yorksh. Spa, x. 91. I … advise those that have effeminate stomachs to take off the cold from the water before they drink it.
† 3. The notion ‘self-indulgent, voluptuous’ (see 1) seems sometimes to have received a special coloring from a pseudo-etymological rendering of the word as ‘devoted to women.’ Unequivocal instances are rare; cf. quot. 1430 in 1; also EFFEMINACY 2; EFFEMINATENESS 2. Obs.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xvi. 55. Man effemynate [Virgil uxorius] wythout honour rauysshed in to dileectation femynyne.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. (Arb.), 146. The king was supposed to be a person very amorous and effeminate.
† 4. Used as pa. pple. of EFFEMINATE, v. Sc. Obs.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. How strang … pepill grew in our regioun afore they were effeminat with lust.
a. 1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, III. 619. How mony men hes it effeminate.
B. sb. An effeminate person. b. spec. (see quot. 1609).
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wars, I. 70. This wanton young effeminate [Richard II.].
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Kings xiv. 24. Effeminates [Vulg. effeminati, 1611 Sodomites] were in the land.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 223. With a just disdain Frown at effeminates.
1860. W. Webb, in Medical Times, 15 Sept., 266/2. Soft-handed effeminates.
