Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Woman?

\Wom"an\, n.; pl. {Women}. [OE. woman, womman, wumman, wimman, wifmon, AS. w[=i]fmann, w[=i]mmann; w[=i]f woman, wife + mann a man. See {Wife}, and {Man}.] 1. An adult female person; a grown-up female person, as distinguished from a man or a child; sometimes, any female person. Women are soft, mild pitiful, and flexible. --Shak. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman. --Gen. ii. 22. I have observed among all nations that the women ornament themselves more than the men; that, wherever found, they are the same kind, civil, obliging, humane, tender beings, inclined to be gay and cheerful, timorous and modest. --J. Ledyard. 2. The female part of the human race; womankind. Man is destined to be a prey to woman. --Thackeray. 3. A female attendant or servant. `` By her woman I sent your message.'' --Shak. {Woman hater}, one who hates women; one who has an aversion to the female sex; a misogynist. --Swift.
\Wom"an\, v. t. 1. To act the part of a woman in; -- with indefinite it. --Daniel. 2. To make effeminate or womanish. [R.] --Shak. 3. To furnish with, or unite to, a woman. [R.] ``To have him see me woman'd.'' --Shak.