Feminine — Defs

01 a. Of or pertaining to a woman, or to women; characteristic of a woman; womanish; womanly.

1.
Of or pertaining to a woman, or to women; characteristic of a woman; womanish; womanly.
“Her letters are remarkably deficient in feminine ease and grace.” — Macaulay.
2.
Having the qualities of a woman; becoming or appropriate to the female sex; as, in a good sense, modest, graceful, affectionate, confiding; or, in a bad sense, weak, nerveless, timid, pleasure-loving, effeminate.
“Her heavenly form Angelic, but more soft and feminine.” — Milton.

“Ninus being esteemed no man of war at all, but altogether feminine, and subject to ease and delicacy.” — Sir W. Raleigh.

Phrases & compounds

Feminine rhyme — See Female rhyme, under Female, a.

Syn. See Female, a.

02 n. A woman.

1.
A woman.[Obs. or Colloq.]
“They guide the feminines toward the palace.” — Hakluyt.
2.
Any one of those words which are the appellations of females, or which have the terminations usually found in such words; as, actress, songstress, abbess, executrix.(Gram.)
“There are but few true feminines in English.” — Latham.