epicene

ep·i·cene

E0175100 (ĕp′ĭ-sēn′)adj.1. Having characteristics of both sexes.2. Having characteristics traditionally ascribed to the other sex, especially as a male who is considered to be effeminate.3. Having no characteristics of either sex.4. Linguistics Having only one form for both the male and the female: an epicene pronoun.n.1. One that is epicene.2. Linguistics An epicene word.

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[Middle English, having only one form of the noun for either gender, from Latin epicoenus, from Greek epikoinos, in common : epi-, epi- + koinos, common; see kom in Indo-European roots.]

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ep′i·cen′ism n.

epicene

(ˈɛpɪˌsiːn) adj1. having the characteristics of both sexes; hermaphroditic2. of neither sex; sexless3. effeminate4. (Grammar) grammar a. denoting a noun that may refer to a male or a female, such as teacher as opposed to businessman or shepherdb. (in Latin, Greek, etc) denoting a noun that retains the same grammatical gender regardless of the sex of the referentn5. an epicene person or creature6. (Grammar) an epicene noun[C15: from Latin epicoenus of both genders, from Greek epikoinos common to many, from koinos common] ˌepiˈcenism n

ep•i•cene

(ˈɛp ɪˌsin)

adj. 1. belonging to, or partaking of the characteristics of, both sexes. 2. flaccid; feeble: epicene prose. 3. effeminate; unmasculine. 4. a. (of a noun or pronoun) capable of referring to either sex, as attendant, or they. b. (of Greek and Latin nouns) of the same gender class regardless of the sex of the referent. n. 5. an epicene person or thing. [1400–50; < Latin epicoenus of both genders < Greek epíkoinos common to many =epi- epi- + koinós common] ep′i•cen`ism, n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	epicene - one having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be madeandrogyne, epicene person, gynandromorph, hermaphrodite, intersexbisexual, bisexual person - a person who is sexually attracted to both sexes
Adj.	1.	epicene - having an ambiguous sexual identitybisexualandrogynous - having both male and female characteristics
	2.	epicene - having unsuitable feminine qualitiescissy, effeminate, emasculate, sissified, sissy, sissyishunmanful, unmanlike, unmanly - not possessing qualities befitting a man

epicene

adjectiveHaving qualities more appropriate to women than to men:effeminate, feminine, sissified, sissyish, unmanly, womanish.

Translations

épicèneepiceno