EFFECTUOSE; EFFECTUOUS
Ef*fec"tu*ose`, Ef*fec"tu*ous, a.
Defn: Effective. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
EFFECTUOUSLY
Ef*fec"tu*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Effectively. [Obs.]
EFFEMINACY
Ef*fem"i*na*cy, n.; pl. Effeminacies. Etym: [From Effeminate.]
Defn: Characteristic quality of a woman, such as softness, luxuriousness, delicacy, or weakness, which is unbecoming a man; womanish delicacy or softness; — used reproachfully of men. Milton.
EFFEMINATE Ef*fem"i*nate, a. Etym: [L. effeminatus, p. p. of effeminare to make a woman of; ex out + femina a woman. See Feminine, a.]
1. Having some characteristic of a woman, as delicacy, luxuriousness, etc.; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; womanish; weak. The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became effeminate, and less sensible of honor. Bacon. An effeminate and unmanly foppery. Bp. Hurd.
2. Womanlike; womanly; tender; — in a good sense. Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse. Shak.
Note: Effeminate and womanish are generally used in a reproachful sense; feminine and womanly, applied to women, are epithets of propriety or commendation.