effeminate

Etymology

From Middle English effeminat, effemynat, from Latin effēminātus, past participle of effēminō, from fēmina (“woman”).

adj

1. (often derogatory, of a man or boy) Exhibiting behaviour or mannerisms considered typical of a female; unmasculine.
   An effeminate and unmanly foppery. 1759, Richard Hurd, Moral and Political Dialogues
2. (obsolete) Womanly; tender, affectionate, caring.

verb

1. (transitive, archaic or nonstandard) To make womanly; to unman.
   the studie of sciences doth more weaken and effeminate mens minds, than corroborate and adapt them to warre. , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.134
   I mean the represenstation of gay men on The Simpsons is getting more one-dimensional. For several years Smithers was quite masculine, yet the writers have effeminated him gradually (collecting Barbies, for instance), now he's rollerblading down the street with rainbow hotpants on? 13 April 2003, AlannahLouis, “Thoughts on #308 - THREE GAYS OF THE CONDO”, in alt.tv.simpsons (Usenet)
2. (intransitive) To become womanly.

noun

1. An effeminate person.
   The effeminates are males with obviously recognizable traits and mannerisms; […] 1976, Psychiatry, volumes 39-40, page 246