A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Effeminat(e, a. Also: effemynate, -enet, effaminate, -ynate, affamynat, -inait. [ME. effeminate (c 1430), L. effēminātus.] Effeminate, womanish, weak.a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 496.
Thare wit, thare strenth, thai spend in perdicioun, And to do iustice thai are affamynat 1531 Bell. Boece II. 297.
The vennomus custome of riotus cheir, … makand his pepil tendir and effeminat 1533 Boece ii. xii. 81 b.
All exercicion quhilk mycht soft or mak thare myndis effamynate 1535 Stewart 45.
Affaminait with fleschlie appetyte 1549 Compl. 72/3.
O ignorant … pepil … , beand of ane effemenet courage 1562-3 Winȝet I. 44/10.
Effeminat personis or babis, impotent to defende vs c1590 Fowler II. 131/27.
Being holden for effeminat, … and consequentlye fallen in the suddart[is] contempt
