| 释义 |
wom·an
I. \ˈwu̇mən sometimes especially in the South ˈwōm- or ˈwəm-\ noun
(plural wom·en \ˈwimə̇n\)
Etymology: Middle English woman, wumman, wimman, wimmon, wifmon, from Old English wīfmon, wīfman, from wīf woman, wife + mon, man man — more at wife, man
1.
a.
(1) : a female human being — distinguished from man
< the women gardened and cooked while the men hunted and fished >
(2) : an adult female human being — distinguished from girl
< the women and girls formed a glee club >
(3) : a female human being as such and without regard to any special status (as of birth, position, or office)
< she is a queen but she is also a woman >
(4) : a female human being of a class or character lower than that normally considered a lady
b. : a female human being belonging to a particular and usually specific category (as by birth, residence, or membership)
< a woman of affairs >
< several Christian women >
— usually used in combination
< charwoman >
< washerwomen >
— compare man 2b
c.
(1) chiefly dialect : wife
(2) : mistress 6a
(3) women plural : human females as partners in sexual intercourse or irregularities
< refrained from women during Lent >
d.
(1) : one possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of womanhood (as gentleness, affection, and domesticity or on the other hand fickleness, superficiality, and folly)
(2) : womanly character or quality : womanliness
2. : the female part of the human race : female human beings especially when viewed as a natural kind or personified as an individual : womankind
< woman is the glory of all created existence — Samuel Richardson >
3. : a human female that serves or is subordinate to another
< expect the woman to come in to clean the rugs >
especially : one that is the personal maid of another
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from woman, n.
1. : of, belonging to, or characteristic of a woman : womanly
< woman talk >
< woman clothes >
2. : female
< a woman doctor >
< woman students >
< memorable woman characters of world literature — Tomorrow >
III. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: woman (I)
1. : to make into a woman or the likeness of a woman
2. obsolete : to make effeminate
3. obsolete : to associate (one) with a woman
< to have him see me womaned — Shakespeare >
4. : to furnish or staff with women |