epicene

An adjective describing something that has characteristics of both sexes or is androgynous; also used in grammar for nouns that can refer to either gender.

• 🌐صفة تصف شيئًا يجمع بين خصائص الجنسين أو يكون محايدًا جنسيًا؛ وتُستخدم في النحو للإشارة إلى الأسماء التي تصلح للمذكر والمؤنث معًا.

1. Ambiguous sexual identity C2 formal

   Having characteristics that are not distinctly male or female; androgynous.

   • The actor's epicene appearance made the role more intriguing.
   • In ancient mythology, some deities are depicted as epicene.
   • The fashion model had an epicene beauty that defied gender norms.

   🌐مُخَنَّث

   المرادفات: androgynousunisex

   الأضداد: femininemasculine

2. Effeminate qualities C2 formal

   Having qualities traditionally considered feminine, often used in a derogatory sense for men.

   • His epicene mannerisms were mocked by his peers.
   • The critic described the character as epicene and weak.
   • Some historical texts use 'epicene' to criticize men for being too delicate.

   🌐مُخَنَّث

   المرادفات: effeminatefoppishgirlishmilksoppansysissifiedunmanlywomanish

   الأضداد: manlymasculinevirile

• more epicene comparative form
• most epicene superlative form

A noun referring to a person who has both male and female sexual characteristics or organs, where a clear assignment of male or female cannot be made at birth.

• 🌐صفة أو اسم يطلق على الشخص الذي يجمع بين الصفات أو الأعضاء الجنسية الذكرية والأنثوية، أو الذي يصعب تحديد جنسه بوضوح عند الولادة. ويشير أيضاً إلى ما ليس له جنس محدد أو ما يصلح للجنسين معاً.

1. Intersex person C1 formal medical

   A person who has both male and female reproductive organs or ambiguous sexual characteristics, making it impossible to assign a singular sex at birth.

   • The ancient Greeks sometimes considered hermaphrodites and epicenes as divine beings.
   • The documentary features stories of epicenes and their fight for legal recognition.
   • In some cultures, epicenes were believed to possess special spiritual powers.
   • Modern medicine now uses the term intersex rather than epicene to describe such individuals.

   🌐شخص ثنائي الجنس

   المرادفات: intersexintersexual

2. Gender-neutral noun C2 formal

   In linguistics, a noun that has a single form for both genders, such as 'teacher' in English or certain words in other languages.

   • In Latin, many animal names are epicene, like 'aquila' (eagle) which is feminine regardless of the bird's sex.
   • Linguists classify 'child' as an epicene noun because it does not change form when referring to boys or girls.
   • Epicene nouns are distinct from common-gender nouns in that they have a fixed grammatical gender irrespective of the referent's sex.
   • The grammar of the language includes rules for epicene nouns that can refer to both men and women.

   🌐اسم الجنس المشترك

• epicenes plural form
• epicenes' possessive plural form
• epicene's possessive singular form