Where does “effeminate” come from?
Effeminate derives from Latin effeminatus, past participle of effemino, from femina, woman, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁-m̥n-eh₂ and dʰeh₁(y)-.
effeminate (English): Exhibiting behaviour or mannerisms considered...
Definitions
- Exhibiting behaviour or mannerisms considered...
Ancestry of “effeminate”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | effeminatus | weakened, enervated; emasculated |
| 2 | Latin | effemino | I weaken or enervate; I make feminine or... |
| 3 | Latin | femina | woman; wife; female |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | fēmanā | woman |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰeh₁-m̥n-eh₂ | who sucks; one who is sucked; one who suckles;... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰeh₁(y)- | to suckle, nurse |