female

• adj. 女性的；雌性的；柔弱的，柔和的
• n. 女人；[动] 雌性动物

词态变化

中文词源

来自拉丁词根fe, 吮吸，吸奶，乳汁，词源同felicity, fecund. -m, 鼻音字母。即喂奶的人，女人。

英文词源

female

female: [14] The symmetry between female and male is a comparatively recent development. Female started as Latin fēmella, a diminutive form of fēmina ‘woman’ (whence English feminine [14]). This in turn was a derivative of Latin fēlāre ‘suck’, and so etymologically signified ‘person from whom milk is sucked’ (it came ultimately from the Indo-European base *dhēi-, which also produced Latin filia ‘daughter’ and filia ‘son’, source of English filial [15]). Fēmella passed into English via Old French femelle as femele, but as early as the end of the 14th century began to change, by association with male, to female.
=> feminine, filial

female (n.)

early 14c., from Old French femelle "woman, female" (12c.), from Medieval Latin femella "a female," from Latin femella "young female, girl," diminutive of femina "woman" (see feminine).

WHEN the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.

[Kipling]

Sense extended in Vulgar Latin from young humans to female of other animals, then to females generally. Compare Latin masculus, also a diminutive (see masculine). Spelling altered late 14c. in erroneous imitation of male. In modern use usually as an adjective (early 14c.). Reference to implements with sockets and corresponding parts is from 1660s.

双语例句

1. Valentino was virtually deified by legions of female fans.

瓦伦蒂诺几乎被众多的女性崇拜者奉若神明。

来自柯林斯例句

2. I realize there's no consensus on what are male or female values.

我意识到人们对什么是男性价值观和什么是女性价值观并无共识。

来自柯林斯例句

3. Janis Joplin was the personification of the '60s female rock singer.

贾尼斯·乔普林是20世纪60年代摇滚女歌手的代表。

来自柯林斯例句

4. Female fans fought their way past bodyguards and tore at his clothes.

女粉丝冲破保安的阻拦，撕扯他的衣裳。

来自柯林斯例句

5. Marty of New York describes herself as a straight female.

纽约的马蒂称自己不是女同性恋者。

来自柯林斯例句