unsex
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To deprive (someone or something) of its sexual character, qualities, or power.
- To make infertile; to sterilize.
Usage
The verb "unsex" is used with a direct object. It is a formal and somewhat archaic or literary word. It describes the action of removing the inherent qualities, functions, or identity associated with a specific sex or gender.
Examples
- Literary/Figurative Use: "In her soliloquy, Lady Macbeth calls on spirits to unsex her, to remove her feminine compassion so she can commit murder."
- Literal/Medical Use (historical): "Outdated and cruel policies sought to unsex individuals deemed 'unfit' through forced sterilization."
Advanced Usage
- The word often carries a strong connotation of violence against one's natural state or identity. It is frequently used in literary analysis, historical discourse, and discussions of gender.
- It can be used reflexively: "She sought to unsex herself to fit into the masculine world of leadership."
Variants and Related Words
- Unsexed (adjective): Describes something that has been deprived of sexual character or sterilized.
- An unsexed animal.
- Sterilize (verb): The more common modern term for making infertile.
- Desex (verb): A near-synonym, often used in biological contexts (e.g., desexing a pet).
Synonyms
- Sterilize
- Desex
- Castrate (specifically for males)
- Spay/Neuter (for animals)
- Emasculate (specifically for depriving of male vigor)
Antonyms
- Masculinize
- Feminize
- Empower
Notes on Meaning
The word has two primary, related meanings: 1. To remove gender-specific qualities: This is often a psychological or symbolic action, as in the famous example from Shakespeare's Macbeth. 2. To remove reproductive capacity: This is a physical, biological action, equivalent to sterilization. This usage is now largely replaced by more precise medical terms.
Verb
-
make infertile
-
in some countries, people with genetically transmissible disabilites are sterilized
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remove the qualities typical of one's sex
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She unsexed herself
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-
deprive of sex or sexual powers
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