— masculinely , adv. — masculinity, masculineness , n.
/mas"kyeuh lin/ , adj.
1. pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men: masculine attire.
2. having qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness.
3. Gram. noting or pertaining to the gender of Latin, Greek, German, French, Spanish, Hebrew, etc., which has among its members most nouns referring to males, as well as other nouns, as Spanish dedo, "finger," German Bleistift, "pencil."
4. (of a woman) mannish.
n. Gram.
5. the masculine gender.
6. a noun or other element in or marking that gender.
[ 1300-50; ME masculin masculinus, equiv. to mascul ( us ) male ( mas male + -culus -CULE 1 ) + -inus -INE 1 ]
Syn. 2. manly. See male .