Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having characteristics of both sexes or no characteristics of either sex: Describes something or someone that combines or lacks distinct male or female qualities.
   • Effeminate (applied to a man): Describes a man who displays qualities or mannerisms traditionally considered feminine.
   • (Linguistics) Having only one form for both male and female referents: Describes a noun or pronoun that is not distinguished by gender.

2. Noun:

   • An epicene person: A person having physical or sexual characteristics of both sexes, or a person whose gender identity is ambiguous or non-binary.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The actor's epicene beauty made him perfect for androgynous roles.
  • Some languages have epicene nouns like "doctor" that can refer to any gender.
  • He was criticized in his time for his epicene mannerisms.

• Noun:

  • The ancient text spoke of a sacred epicene, embodying both male and female principles.
  • The documentary featured interviews with epicenes who identify outside the gender binary.

Advanced Usage

• In Literary or Artistic Criticism: Used to describe characters, styles, or aesthetics that transcend or blur traditional gender distinctions.
  • The poet cultivated an epicene persona in both life and work.
• In Biology or Medicine (Archaic/Technical): As a noun, it can refer to an intersex individual.
  • Historical medical texts sometimes classified such conditions under the term "epicene."

Variants and Related Words

• Epicenity (n): The quality or state of being epicene.
  • The epicenity of the fashion line challenged conventional norms.
• Androgynous (adj): Similar in meaning, suggesting a blend of male and female characteristics.
• Unisex (adj): Designed for or suitable to both sexes.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Androgynous, unisex, effeminate (context-dependent), genderless, hermaphroditic (in biological contexts).
• Noun: Intersex person, androgyne.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Masculine, feminine, gender-specific.
• Noun: A clearly male or female individual.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Epicene pronoun: A pronoun that does not specify gender, such as the singular "they."
  • Using an epicene pronoun like "they" promotes inclusivity.
• Epicene beauty: A beauty that is not distinctly masculine or feminine.
  • The statue was admired for its epicene beauty.

Adjective

1. having unsuitable feminine qualities
2. having an ambiguous sexual identity

Noun

1. one having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made