EFFEM'INATE, adjective [Latin effoeminatus, from effoeminor, to grow or make womanish, from foemina, a woman. See Woman.] 1. Having the qualities of the female sex; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; tender; womanish; voluptuous. The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became effeminate and less sensible of honor. 2. Womanish; weak; resembling the practice or qualities of the sex; as an effeminate peace; an effeminate life. 3. Womanlike, tender, in a sense not reproachful. EFFEM'INATE, verb transitive To make womanish; to unman; to weaken; as to effeminate children. EFFEM'INATE, verb intransitive To grow womanish or weak; to melt into weakness. In a slothful peace courage will effeminate
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI