effemino Latin · revision 33320

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=ine-pro *dheh1-mh1n-h2-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɛfˈfeː.mɪ.noː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [efˈfɛː.mi.no]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''effēminō''' (present infinitive effēmināre, perfect active effēmināvī, supine effēminātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ An old spelling ''ecf-'' occurs in a fragment of Cicero's poems.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ex-|fēmina|-ō|t2=woman]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|fēmina]] to [[itc-pro|*fēmanā-]] and [[ine-pro|*dheh1-mh1n-h2-|t=the one nursing]], originally a middle participle of the root [[m|ine-pro|*dheh1-|t=to suckle]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL records it from Cato and Cicero on.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its literal sense is to deprive of male characteristics, to emasculate,^(OLD 2012) and Cicero reports that the Stoics made the air female, assigning it to Juno, because nothing is softer.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its usual sense is to destroy the manly vigour of a person or character, to unman or enervate:^(OLD 2012) Cicero says we are unmanned by the softest thoughts.^(OLD 2012) Quintilian uses it of a style so transparent that it makes the matter itself effeminate.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of being unmanned by soft thoughts.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian, of a style that weakens its subject.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – Its participle ''effēminātus'' gives English [[m|en|effeminate]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make female; to [[m|en|emasculate]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To regard as female.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|unman]], weaken, [[m|en|enervate]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[effēminātiō]]

+ * [[effēminātus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fēmina]]

+ * [[en|effeminate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}