epicene
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈɛpɪsiːn/
- Specialized
:
epiceno
- The actor, known for his epicene appearance, often plays roles that challenge traditional gender norms.
Examples
-
The ballroom was a museum of exquisite court couture, mannered gestures, and weak, epicene faces.
Fiction book (1997) -
The epicene Boris plays the principal role, his beauty enhanced by cosmetics, his chestpiece encrusted with amethysts, and mascaraed eyes open wide like the stars.
Academic text (1991) -
(I originally found the comparison of epicene pronouns and "Ms." in an essay by Jed Hartman.)
Blog text (11) -
I think a lot of people operate with an assumption that the average person (a guy, referred to with the epicene "he") is male, and that it isn't until certain very specific words come up (model, nurse, pretty, etc.) that people suddenly visualize a woman or girl.
Blog text (27) -
My aim is to compare and contrast the most usable epicene pronouns and also provide text with the pronouns inserted so those curious can see each pronoun in action.
Blog text (11) -
At the party, there was an epicene figure who effortlessly blended elements of both masculine and feminine fashion.
-
Many fashion designers are embracing epicene styles, creating clothing that can be worn by people of any gender.
Synonyms
11
8.9
A person, animal, or plant with both male and female sex organs
3
7.4
A person born with body parts for sex that are not clearly male or female
A person born with both male and female body parts so it is unclear if they are male or female
A person born with both male and female sexual parts
Compounds
- Specialized
A person born with both male and female body parts so it is unclear if they are male or female
Surface Forms
Etymology
Epicene comes from Greek parts epi- and koinos, which together meant 'shared by both' or 'common to both sexes'. So a person called epicene is one whose sexual features are not clearly male or female.