ep·i·cene
(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.
[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.]
ep′i·cen′ism n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
epicenism
the state or quality of combining characteristics of both sexes. — epicenity, n. — epicene, adj.
See also: Biology
the state or quality of combining characteristics of both sexes. — epicenity, n. — epicene, adj.
See also: Body, Human
the state or quality of combining characteristics of both sexes. — epicenity, n. — epicene, adj.
See also: Sex-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.