— womanliness, womanness , n.
/woom"euhn lee/ , adj.
1. like or befitting a woman; feminine; not masculine or girlish.
adv.
2. in the manner of, or befitting, a woman.
[ 1250-1300; ME wommanli ( che ). See WOMAN, -LY ]
Syn. 2. WOMANLY, WOMANLIKE, WOMANISH mean having the traits or qualities that a culture regards as especially characteristic of or ideally appropriate to adult women. WOMANLY is usually a term of approval, suggesting the display of traits admired by the society, such as self-possession, modesty, motherliness, and calm competence: a womanly consideration for others; with womanly skill and efficiency. WOMANLIKE may be a neutral synonym for WOMANLY, or it may suggest mild disapproval: a womanlike dignity; womanlike tears and recriminations.
WOMANISH is usually disparaging; applied to women it suggests traits not generally socially approved: a womanish petulance; womanish disregard for the rules. Applied to men it suggests traits culturally deemed inappropriate for men and (in what is now often regarded as a sexist notion) to be found in women: a womanish shrillness in his speech; a womanish way of stamping his foot in anger. See also female .