effeminacy

2 definitions found

effeminacy - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Effeminacy \Ef*fem"i*na*cy\, n.; pl. Effeminacies. [From
     Effeminate.]
     Characteristic quality of a woman, such as softness,
     luxuriousness, delicacy, or weakness, which is unbecoming a
     man; womanish delicacy or softness; -- used reproachfully of
     men. --Milton.
     [1913 Webster]

effeminacy - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  effeminacy
      n 1: the trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man); "the
           students associated science with masculinity and arts with
           effeminacy"; "Spartans accused Athenians of
           effeminateness"; "he was shocked by the softness of the
           atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the
           superfluity of the femininity that guided him" [syn:
           effeminacy, effeminateness, sissiness, softness,
           womanishness, unmanliness]