muliebrity

noun

mu·​li·​eb·​ri·​ty ˌmyü-lē-ˈe-brə-tē 

: femininity

Did you know?

Muliebrity has been used in English to suggest the distinguishing character or qualities of a woman or of womankind since the 16th century. (Its masculine counterpart, virility, entered the language at about the same time.) Muliebrity comes from Latin mulier, meaning "woman," and probably is a cognate of Latin mollis, meaning "soft." Mollis is also the source of the English verb mollify—a word that implies a "softening" of hurt feelings or anger.

Synonyms

• femininity
• feminity
• womanhood
• womanishness
• womanliness

Examples of muliebrity in a Sentence

with her warm hospitality and graceful manners, she demonstrated a refined muliebrity

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin muliebritat-, muliebritas, from Latin muliebris of a woman, from mulier woman

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined above

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