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femininity

[fem-uh-nin-i-tee]
noun
  1. the quality of being feminine; womanliness.
  2. women collectively.
  3. effeminacy.
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Also fe·min·i·ty [fi-min-i-tee] /fɪˈmɪn ɪ ti/.

Origin of femininity

First recorded in 1350–1400, femininity is from the Middle English word femininite. See feminine, -ity
Related formshy·per·fem·i·nin·i·ty, nouno·ver·fem·i·nin·i·ty, nounsu·per·fem·i·nin·i·ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for feminity

Historical Examples

  • This problem of feminity and childhood which he had confronted was too much for him.

    The Debtor

    Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

  • Lily had something of a business turn in spite of her feminity.

    By the Light of the Soul

    Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

  • He seemed to catch a glimpse of dreadful depths of feminity which daunted his masculine mind.

    The Shoulders of Atlas

    Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

  • The result of this in man is that there is no pure masculinity or feminity either in the biological or psychological sense.

  • As far as feminity is known, or can ever be known, one dominant impulse has never wavered or weakened.

    Americans and Others

    Agnes Repplier

British Dictionary definitions for feminity

femininity

noun
  1. the quality of being feminine
  2. womanhood
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for feminity

n.

"quality or state of being feminine," late 14c., from Old French feminité, from Latin femina (see feminine).

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femininity

n.

late 14c., femynynytee, from feminine + -ity.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper