epicene

• Adjectif décrivant quelque chose qui présente des caractéristiques des deux sexes ou qui est androgyne ; également utilisé en grammaire pour des noms pouvant se référer à n'importe quel genre.

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.

1. Ambiguous sexual identityC2formal

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

   Épicène (identité sexuelle ambiguë)

   • 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.

   Synonymesandrogynousunisex

   Antonymesfemininemasculine

2. Effeminate qualitiesC2formal

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

   Qualités efféminées

   • 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.

   Synonymeseffeminatefoppishgirlishmilksoppansysissifiedunmanlywomanish

   Antonymesmanlymasculinevirile

• Nom désignant une personne présentant à la fois des caractères sexuels masculins et féminins, ou dont le sexe ne peut être déterminé clairement à la naissance.

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.

1. Intersex personC1formalmedical

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

   personne intersexe

   • 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.

   Synonymesintersexintersexual

2. Gender-neutral nounC2formal

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

   nom épicène

   • 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.