Masculine

Masculine

Adjective / Noun · /ˈmæs.kjʊ.lɪn/

Definition

(Adjective) having qualities or characteristics traditionally associated with men; of or relating to men; in grammar, denoting or belonging to a grammatical gender that includes most words for males and often other categories; (Noun) the masculine gender in grammar.

Origin

From Latin masculinus (of the male sex), from masculus (male), diminutive of mas (male, man). The grammatical sense — distinguishing the masculine gender of nouns — is the oldest documented sense in English, from the 14th century. The broader sense of having male characteristics developed from the grammatical sense.