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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

feminine en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • /ˈfɛmənɪn/
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈfɛmɪnɪn/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(y)-der. Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-m̥h₁n-éh₂ Proto-Italic *θēmanā Proto-Italic *fēmanā Latin fēmina Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnus Latin fēminīnusder. Old French femininbor. Middle English femynyne English feminine From Middle English feminine, femynyne, femynyn, from Old French feminin, feminine, from Latin fēminīnus, from fēmina (“woman”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-m̥h₁n-eh₂ (“(the one) nursing, breastfeeding”). Related to fetus, feminism, filial, fellatio.

Meanings

  1. Of or pertaining to the female gender.
  2. Of or pertaining to the female sex; biologically female, not male.
  3. Belonging to females; typically used by females.
    • Mary, Elizabeth, and Edith are feminine names.
  4. Having the qualities stereotypically associated with women: nurturing, not aggressive, sensual; womanly.
    • Her letters are remarkably deficient in feminine ease and grace. 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
    • Her heavenly form Angelic, but more soft and feminine. 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
    • Ninias being esteemed no man of warre at all, but altogether feminine, and subject to ease and delicacy. 1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh], The Historie of the World […], London: […] William Stansby for Walter Burre, […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=1 to 5):
  5. (of a noun) Of, pertaining or belonging to the female grammatical gender, in languages that have gender distinctions. ▸ Being of the feminine class or grammatical gender, and inflected in that manner.
  6. (of another part of speech) Of, pertaining or belonging to the female grammatical gender, in languages that have gender distinctions. ▸ Being inflected in agreement with a feminine noun.
    • Women's names were formed in the same way as men's, but with feminine terminations […] 1945, E[lizabeth] G[idley] Withycombe, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page xiii:
  7. (of any word, qualifier:Mongolic languages) Having the vowel harmony of a front vowel.
  8. Following or ending on an unstressed syllable.
    • Feminine caesura, feminine catalexis, feminine ending, feminine rhyme.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
more feminine Degree=Cmp lexicographic
fœminine alternative, hypercorrect, obsolete lexicographic
femenine alternative, misspelling lexicographic
f. Abbr=Yes alternative lexicographic
most feminine Degree=Sup lexicographic
f Abbr=Yes alternative lexicographic

Antonyms

androgynous · neuter · male (of the female sex) · masculine (having qualities stereotypical of the female gender) · manly (of the female sex) · butch (having qualities stereotypical of the female gender) · manly · masculine · masculine

Coordinates

masculine · common · masculine · neuter · common · neuter · masculine

Deriveds

feminine of center · feminize · antifeminine · superfeminine · overfeminine · femininization · transfeminine · feminineness · femininity · feminoid · feminine ending · feminine caesura · femininism · hyperfeminine · nonfeminine · feminine rhyme · pseudofeminine · suprafeminine · femininely · femininize · cisfeminine · feminine product · ultrafeminine · unfeminine · masculofeminine · feminine hygiene · infeminine

Hypernyms

guise

Hyponyms

wifish · housewifish · wifey · uxorial · housewifey · housewifely · wifely

Relateds

female · she-

Synonyms

femme (having qualities stereotypical of the female gender) · soft · girlish · unmanly · maidenly · swish · feminine · womanish · beauty (having qualities stereotypical of the female gender) · caring (having qualities stereotypical of the female gender) · ladyish · female (of the female sex) · Of a man · effeminate · unmasculine · fem · fruity · matronly · epicene · girly · female · female · ladylike (having qualities stereotypical of the female gender) · camp · womanly (of the female sex) · nurturing (having qualities stereotypical of the female gender)

Translations (256)

kk әйелдік (of the female sex) · ceb pangbabaye (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · mk женски (having the qualities associated with women) · fi naispuolinen (of the female sex) · vo vomik (belonging to females) · lv sievišķīgs (belonging to females) · tr dişil (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · pa زَنانہ (having the qualities associated with women) · uk жіно́чий (belonging to females) · be жано́чы (belonging to females) · oc femenin (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · sv kvinnlig (belonging to females) · fi naismainen (having the qualities associated with women) · ko 여자답다 (of the female sex) · cmn 女性的 (of the female sex) · fi naisten (belonging to females) · ka ქალური (having the qualities associated with women) · la fēminīnus (having the qualities associated with women) · es de mujeres (belonging to females) · pt feminino (belonging to females) · uk жіно́чий (having the qualities associated with women) · da kvindelig (having the qualities associated with women) · nn feminin (belonging to females) · de feminin (belonging to females) · te స్త్రీలింగము (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · la fēminīnus (of the female sex) · lv sieviešu (having the qualities associated with women) · uk жіно́цький (having the qualities associated with women) · zza mayki (diq) (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · he נקבה (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · el γυναικείος (belonging to females) · id feminin (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · sl ženski (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · yi פֿעמינין (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · nap femminile (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ja 女らしい (having the qualities associated with women) · alt тижи (having the qualities associated with women) · nb feminin (of the female sex) · alt тижи (belonging to females) · la fēminīnus (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · sv kvinnlig (having the qualities associated with women) · ru феминный (having the qualities associated with women) · ru же́нский (of the female sex) · ga baineann (of the female sex) · be жано́цкі (of the female sex) · ko 여자답다 (having the qualities associated with women) · sv feminin (having the qualities associated with women) · tr feminen (having the qualities associated with women) · fi naaras- (of the female sex) · br benel (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · gd banail (having the qualities associated with women) · sk dievčenský (belonging to females) · es femenino (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · it femminile (having the qualities associated with women) · hsb žónski ród (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · lv sieviešu (of the female sex) · ja 女性らしい (of the female sex) · vo vomik (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · bg же́нски (having the qualities associated with women) · ka მდედრობითი სქესი (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ru же́нственный (having the qualities associated with women) · ro feminin (having the qualities associated with women) · gd boireann (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · hu nőnemű (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ru же́нский (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · alt тижи (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · vi giống cái (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ka ქალური (of the female sex) · is kvenkyns- (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · mk женски (belonging to females) · gv bwoirrin (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · de feminin (having the qualities associated with women) · pa زَنانہ (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ja 女性 (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · sq femëror (having the qualities associated with women) · zza mayki (diq) (of the female sex) · zza maykek (belonging to females) · lv sievišķs (having the qualities associated with women) · alt тижи (of the female sex) · tr dişil (of the female sex) · gl feminino (having the qualities associated with women) · be жано́чы (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · zza nerimako (belonging to females) · eo ina (of the female sex) · fi feminiininen (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · hu női (belonging to females) · el θηλυκός (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · cs ženský (of the female sex) · mk женски (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · lv sieviešu (belonging to females) · be жано́чы (having the qualities associated with women) · da kvindelig (of the female sex) · nn feminin (having the qualities associated with women) · pt feminino (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ko 녀성 (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · sk ženský (belonging to females) · sk ženský (of the female sex) · cs ženský (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · cmn 女性的 (belonging to females) · zza maki (diq) (of the female sex) · fa زنانه (having the qualities associated with women) · es femenil (belonging to females) · ka ქალური (belonging to females) · cy benywaidd (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · uk жіно́чий (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · hy կնոջ (belonging to females) · lv sieviešu (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · bg же́нски (of the female sex) · hu nőies (having the qualities associated with women) · uk жіно́чий (of the female sex) · pa ਇਸਤਰੀਲਿੰਗ (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · lv sievišķs (belonging to females) · mr स्त्रीलिंगी (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · nn feminin (of the female sex) · fr féminin (having the qualities associated with women) · fy froulik (having the qualities associated with women) · lv sievišķīgs (of the female sex) · lt moteriškas (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · kw benow (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ce зударийн род (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ja 女性的な (having the qualities associated with women) · pa زَنانہ (of the female sex) · sh жѐнскӣ (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · fo kvinnuligur (of the female sex) · grc θηλυκός (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · fy froulik (belonging to females) · zza mari (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · mr स्त्रैण (of the female sex) · lt moteriškos giminės (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · am የሴት (of the female sex) · mt femminili (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · vi nữ giới (of the female sex) · kcg a̱nap (of the female sex) · gl feminino (of the female sex) · sv kvinnlig (of the female sex) · mga banamail (having the qualities associated with women) · da feminin (having the qualities associated with women) · cmn 女性的 (having the qualities associated with women) · it femminile (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · vi nữ tính (having the qualities associated with women) · pa ਜ਼ਨਾਨਾ (of the female sex) · hi स्त्रीलिंग (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ko 여성 (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · de weiblich (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · es femenino (having the qualities associated with women) · de feminin (of the female sex) · gv bwoirrin (belonging to females) · fi feminiininen (having the qualities associated with women) · bg же́нски (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · sv feminin (of the female sex) · ps ښځينه (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ja 女らしい (of the female sex) · nb feminin (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · bg же́нски (belonging to females) · el γυναικείος (having the qualities associated with women) · gl feminino (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · de weiblich (belonging to females) · ar مُؤَنَّث (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · sk ženský (having the qualities associated with women) · ro femeiesc (having the qualities associated with women) · ru же́нский (belonging to females) · fy froulik (of the female sex) · tr kadınsı (having the qualities associated with women) · ko 녀자답다 (of the female sex) · lt moteriškas (having the qualities associated with women) · fi naisellinen (having the qualities associated with women) · lv sievišķīgs (having the qualities associated with women) · la muliebris (having the qualities associated with women) · ca femenívol (belonging to females) · ko 여성의 (belonging to females) · ar نِسَائِيّ (of the female sex) · sv feminin (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · bg же́нствен (having the qualities associated with women) · pl kobiecy (having the qualities associated with women) · pl żeński (of the female sex) · zza feminem (having the qualities associated with women) · pt feminino (of the female sex) · ja 女性の (belonging to females) · grc θῆλυς (of the female sex) · gv bwoirrin (having the qualities associated with women) · cmn 陰性的 /阴性的 (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ga baineann (having the qualities associated with women) · ceb pangbabaye (belonging to females) · es femenino (of the female sex) · id feminin (having the qualities associated with women) · sh žènskī (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · vo vomik (of the female sex) · ja 女の (of the female sex) · ja フェミニンな (having the qualities associated with women) · it femminile (of the female sex) · rop gelwan (of the female sex) · nl vrouwelijk (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · nb hunkjønn (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · uk жіно́чний (having the qualities associated with women) · km ភេទស្រី (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · hi स्त्रैण (having the qualities associated with women) · hi स्त्रैण (of the female sex) · sk ženský (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · fi napsu (having the qualities associated with women) · ps ښځينه (of the female sex) · fi naaraspuolinen (of the female sex) · id feminin (of the female sex) · pt feminino (having the qualities associated with women) · hu nőnemű (of the female sex) · ga baininscneach (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ko 나약하다 (having the qualities associated with women) · ps ښځينه (belonging to females) · hi स्त्रैण (belonging to females) · la femininus (belonging to females) · mr बायकी (having the qualities associated with women) · hy իգական (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · mk женствен (having the qualities associated with women) · nb feminin (belonging to females) · ka მდედრობითი (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · gv benoil (having the qualities associated with women) · gv bwoirrin (of the female sex) · fr féminin (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · de feminin (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · hy իգական (of the female sex) · fr féminin (belonging to females) · sv feminin (belonging to females) · ca femení (belonging to females) · ko 녀성의 (belonging to females) · pa ਜ਼ਨਾਨਾ (having the qualities associated with women) · fr féminin (of the female sex) · it femminile (belonging to females) · nn feminin (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · be жано́цкі (having the qualities associated with women) · eo ina (having the qualities associated with women) · vo vomik (having the qualities associated with women) · pl żeński (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · sq femëror (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · de weiblich (having the qualities associated with women) · lv sieviešu dzimtes (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · ko 녀자답다 (having the qualities associated with women) · hu nőstény (of the female sex) · id feminin (belonging to females) · de weiblich (of the female sex) · ur مُؤَنَّث (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · da hunkøns- (of the feminine grammatical gender distinction) · da kvinde- (belonging to females) · es femenino (belonging to females) · lv sievišķs (of the female sex) · hy կանացի (having the qualities associated with women) · da feminin (belonging to females) · ps ښځينه (having the qualities associated with women) · ca femenívol (having the qualities associated with women) · be жано́чы (of the female sex) · nb feminin (having the qualities associated with women) · ka მდედრობითი (of the female sex) · ru же́нский (having the qualities associated with women) · el θηλυκός (of the female sex) · rup feamin (having the qualities associated with women) · txb klaiññe (of the female sex) · hu női (of the female sex) · or ସ୍ତ୍ରୈଣ (of the female sex)

feminine en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈfɛmənɪn/
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈfɛmɪnɪn/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(y)-der. Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-m̥h₁n-éh₂ Proto-Italic *θēmanā Proto-Italic *fēmanā Latin fēmina Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnus Latin fēminīnusder. Old French femininbor. Middle English femynyne English feminine From Middle English feminine, femynyne, femynyn, from Old French feminin, feminine, from Latin fēminīnus, from fēmina (“woman”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-m̥h₁n-eh₂ (“(the one) nursing, breastfeeding”). Related to fetus, feminism, filial, fellatio.

Meanings

  1. That which is feminine.
  2. (obsolete, possibly, rare) A woman.
    • They guide the feminines toward the Pallace. 1589, Richard Hakluyt, The Principall Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, […], London: […] George Bishop and Ralph Newberie, deputies to Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC:
  3. The feminine gender.
  4. A word of the feminine gender.
    • These changes being understood, it is easy to see how inaccurate it is to talk of she being the feminine, and they being the plural, of he. The different words belong to dif­fer­ent systems, and are no more the masculines and feminines of one another, than (to use a well-known illustration) puss is the vocative case of cat. 1860, Robert Gordon Latham FRS, An Elementary English Grammar: For the Use of Schools, →OCLC, page 82:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
fœminine alternative, hypercorrect, obsolete lexicographic
feminines Number=Plur lexicographic
femenine alternative, misspelling lexicographic
f Abbr=Yes alternative lexicographic
f. Abbr=Yes alternative lexicographic

Translations (47)

cmn 陰性 /阴性 ((grammar)) · km ឥត្ថីលិង្គ ((grammar)) · fy froulik ((grammar)) · de Femininum ((grammar)) · hu nőnem ((grammar)) · ja 女性 ((grammar)) · sk slovo ženského rodu (a word of the feminine gender) · ru же́нский род ((grammar)) · hu nőnemű alak (a word of the feminine gender) · sk ženský rod ((grammar)) · nl vrouwelijke (that which is feminine) · tr dişil ((grammar)) · fi feminiini ((grammar)) · my ဣတ္ထိလိင် ((grammar)) · da femininum ((grammar)) · eo ingenro ((grammar)) · bg же́нски род ((grammar)) · hi स्त्रीलिंग ((grammar)) · sv femininum ((grammar)) · cmn 陰性詞 /阴性词 (a word of the feminine gender) · eo femineno ((grammar)) · mr स्त्रीलिंग ((grammar)) · pl rodzaj żeński ((grammar)) · oc femenin ((grammar)) · sa स्त्रीलिङ्ग ((grammar)) · ps ښځينه ((grammar)) · vi giống cái ((grammar)) · lv sievišķīgais (that which is feminine) · ta பெண்பால் ((grammar)) · it femminile ((grammar)) · ga baininscne ((grammar)) · lv sieviešu dzimte ((grammar)) · es femenino ((grammar)) · lt moteriškoji giminė ((grammar)) · uk жіно́чий рід ((grammar)) · el θηλυκό ((grammar)) · fr féminin ((grammar)) · pt feminino ((grammar)) · mn эм хүйс ((grammar)) · cs ženský rod ((grammar)) · br benel ((grammar)) · fa مؤنث ((grammar)) · ar مُؤَنَّث ((grammar)) · be жано́чы род ((grammar)) · ko 여성 ((grammar)) · ca femení ((grammar)) · el θηλυκό (that which is feminine)

wikidata: Q1775415