■ adjective
1》 of or denoting the sex that can bear offspring or produce eggs.
↘relating to or characteristic of women or ~ animals.
↘(of a plant or flower) having a pistil but no stamens.
2》 (of a fitting) manufactured hollow so that a corresponding male part can be inserted.
■ noun a ~ person, animal, or plant.
Derivatives
~ness noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. femelle , from L. femella , dimin. of femina 'a woman'; the change in the ending was due to assoc. with male .