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epicene

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
ep·i·cene  (p-sn)
adj.
1. Belonging to or having the characteristics of both the male and the female: an epicene statue.
2. Effeminate; unmanly.
3. Sexless; neuter.
4. Linguistics Having only one form of the noun for both the male and the female.
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.]

epi·cenism n.

epicene [ˈɛpɪˌsiːn]
adj
1. having the characteristics of both sexes; hermaphroditic
2. of neither sex; sexless
3. effeminate
4. (Linguistics / Grammar) Grammar
a.  denoting a noun that may refer to a male or a female, such as teacher as opposed to businessman or shepherd
b.  (in Latin, Greek, etc.) denoting a noun that retains the same grammatical gender regardless of the sex of the referent
n
1. an epicene person or creature
2. (Linguistics / Grammar) an epicene noun
[from Latin epicoenus of both genders, from Greek epikoinos common to many, from koinos common]
epicenism  n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.epicene - one having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made
bisexual, bisexual person - a person who is sexually attracted to both sexes
Adj.1.epicene - having an ambiguous sexual identity
androgynous - having both male and female characteristics
2.epicene - having unsuitable feminine qualities
unmanful, unmanlike, unmanly - not possessing qualities befitting a man
Translations
epicene [ˈepɪsiːn] ADJepiceno


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
However persistently the epicene theorists of modern times may deny it, it is nevertheless a truth plainly visible in the whole past history of the sexes that the natural condition of a woman is to find her master in a man.
 
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