effeminate Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective satellite having unsuitable feminine qualities
emasculate; cissy; sissyish; sissy; epicene; sissified.

L. effeminatus, p. p. of effeminare to make a woman of; ex out + femina a woman. See Feminine, a.

Having some characteristic of a woman, as delicacy, luxuriousness, etc.; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; womanish; weak.
The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became effeminate, and less sensible of honor. Bacon.

An effeminate and unmanly foppery. Bp. Hurd.
Womanlike; womanly; tender; -- in a good sense.
Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse. Shak.
✍ Effeminate and womanish are generally used in a reproachful sense; feminine and womanly, applied to women, are epithets of propriety or commendation.

imperfect & past participle Effeminated ; present participle & verbal noun Effeminating

To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken.
It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds. Locke.

To grow womanish or weak.
In a slothful peace both courage will effeminate and manners corrupt. Pope.