muliebriter

Forms

muliebriter (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin muliebris (“womanly”) + -ter.^[2][1] De Vaan takes muliebris to show that mulier (“woman”) was originally an s-stem; the further origin of the noun is disputed.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,^[4] who in the Tusculan Disputations urges that we do nothing in a slavish or womanish way: ne quid serviliter muliebriterve faciamus.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It means in the manner of a woman, like a woman,^[2] and, of the conduct of a man, in a way thought more fitting for a woman, effeminately,^[2][1] as in Cicero's warning against bearing pain in a womanish way.^[2]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero, of conduct unworthy of a man.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. In the manner of a woman, like a woman.^[2][1]
2. Of a man's conduct: effeminately, in a womanish way.^[2][1]

Related words

• muliebris
• mulier

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de