effeminacy

plural effeminacies · alternative obsolete effæminacy · alternative obsolete effeminacie · alternative obsolete effœminacy · alternative obsolete effœminacie

1. countableuncountableThe quality of being effeminate.

   Salmacis: A fountain in ancient Greece whose waters were reputed to produce effeminacy.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 214

   2 more examples

   It is an argument that cannot proceed but from a low Iudgment, or a ſpirit ſoothed with its owne Effeminaty, to ſay, He is Noble, he is a Courtier, he is a man of State, His quality tyeth him not to perfection, His vertue must be meaſured by the ell of the world, If he were ouer vertuous, the exceſſe of his Sanctity would be preiudiciall to his fortune.

   1626, Nicolas Caussin, translated by T[homas] H[awkins], The Holy Court. Or The Christian Institution of Men of Quality. With Examples of Those, Who in Court Haue Flourished in Sanctity., Paris, page 13

   I yielded, and unlock'd her all my heart, / Who with a grain of manhood well reſolv'd / Might eaſily have ſhook off all her ſnares: / But foul effeminacy held me yok't / Her Bond-ſlave; […]

   1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, pages 30–31, lines 408–412

   Synonyms: effeminateness, effemination, invirility, morbidezza, niceness, unmasculinity