- See Also:
- - epiboly
  - epic
  - epic machinery
  - epic simile
  - epicalyx
  - epicanthus
  - epicardium
  - epicarp
  - Epicaste
  - epicedium
  - epicene
  - epicenter
  - epicentre
  - epicentrum
  - epichlorohydrin
  - epicist
  - epicondyle
  - epicondylitis
  - epicontinental
  - epicotyl
  - epicranium
- Recent searches:
- View All

epicene

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈɛpɪˌsiːn/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(ep′i sēn′)

ep•i•cene (ep′i sēn′),USA pronunciation adj.

belonging to, or partaking of the characteristics of, both sexes:Fashions in clothing are becoming increasingly epicene.
flaccid;
feeble;
weak:an epicene style of writing.
effeminate;
unmasculine.
Grammar(of Greek and Latin nouns) of the same gender class regardless of the sex of the being referred to, as Latin vulpēs "fox or vixen'' is always grammatically feminine.
Grammar(of a noun or pronoun) capable of referring to either sex, as attendant, chairperson, Kim, one, or they;
having common gender.

a person or thing that is epicene.

Greek epíkoinos common to many, equivalent. to epi- epi- + koinós common
Latin epicoenus of both genders
late Middle English 1400–50

ep′i•cen′ism, n.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

epicene /ˈɛpɪˌsiːn/ adj

having the characteristics of both sexes; hermaphroditic
of neither sex; sexless
effeminate
- denoting a noun that may refer to a male or a female, such as teacher as opposed to businessman or shepherd
- (in Latin, Greek, etc) denoting a noun that retains the same grammatical gender regardless of the sex of the referent

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin epicoenus of both genders, from Greek epikoinos common to many, from koinos commonˌepiˈcenism n

Forum discussions with the word(s) "epicene" in the title:

No titles with the word(s) "epicene".

Visit the English Only Forum.
Help WordReference: Ask in the forums yourself.

Look up "epicene" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "epicene" at dictionary.com

Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/epicene

⇱ epicene - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

epicene