epicene
/'episi:n/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- having unsuitable feminine qualities
- having an ambiguous sexual identity
Noun
- one having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made