I. ˈwu̇mən sometimes especially in the South ˈwōm- or ˈwəm- noun
( plural wom·en ˈwimə̇n)
Etymology: Middle English woman, wumman, wimman, wimmon, wifmon, from Old English wīfmon, wīfman, from wīf woman, wife + mon, man man — more at wife , man
1.
a.
(1) : a female human being — distinguished from man
the women gardened and cooked while the men hunted and fished
(2) : an adult female human being — distinguished from girl
the women and girls formed a glee club
(3) : a female human being as such and without regard to any special status (as of birth, position, or office)
she is a queen but she is also a woman
(4) : a female human being of a class or character lower than that normally considered a lady
b. : a female human being belonging to a particular and usually specific category (as by birth, residence, or membership)
a woman of affairs
several Christian women
— usually used in combination
char woman
washer women
— compare man 2b
c.
(1) chiefly dialect : wife
(2) : mistress 6a
(3) women plural : human females as partners in sexual intercourse or irregularities
refrained from women during Lent
d.
(1) : one possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of womanhood (as gentleness, affection, and domesticity or on the other hand fickleness, superficiality, and folly)
(2) : womanly character or quality : womanliness
2. : the female part of the human race : female human beings especially when viewed as a natural kind or personified as an individual : womankind
woman is the glory of all created existence — Samuel Richardson
3. : a human female that serves or is subordinate to another
expect the woman to come in to clean the rugs
especially : one that is the personal maid of another
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from woman, n.
1. : of, belonging to, or characteristic of a woman : womanly
woman talk
woman clothes
2. : female
a woman doctor
woman students
memorable woman characters of world literature — Tomorrow
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: woman (I)
1. : to make into a woman or the likeness of a woman
2. obsolete : to make effeminate
3. obsolete : to associate (one) with a woman
to have him see me womaned — Shakespeare
4. : to furnish or staff with women