androgynous, a.
(ænˈdrɒdʒɪnəs)
[f. L. androgyn-us (see androgyne n.) + -ous.]
1. Uniting the (physical) characters of both sexes, at once male and female; hermaphrodite.
| 1651 Biggs New Disp. ¶69 Nature.. contenteth herself with that which is androgynous and promiscuous. 1751 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Many of the rabbins are of opinion that Adam was created androgynous. 1828 Kirby & Spence Entomol. IV. xlii. 167 To suppose these insects are truly androgynous, as strictly uniting both sexes in one. 1844 For. Q. Rev. XXXIII. 273 Madame Sand has been known to travel in an androgynous costume. 1878 Besant & Rice Celia's Arb. I. xiii. 185 A woman without the mystical veil is no woman, but a creature androgynous. |
† 2. Hence, of men: womanish, effeminate. Obs.
| 1628 Prynne Love-Lockes 49 Clemens condemnes all such for androginous and effeminate persons. |
3. Astrol.
| 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 86 Planets masculine, feminine, androgynous. 1751 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The astrologers also give the appellation androgynous to such of the planets as are sometimes hot, and sometimes cold. 1819 Pantolog. s.v., Mercury is reckoned androgynous, being hot and dry when near the Sun, cold and moist when near the moon. |
4. Bot. Bearing both stamens and pistils in the same flower, or on the same plant.
| 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. i. xxi. 64 Androgynous, Male and Female, such as upon the same Root bear both male and female Flowers. 1793 Martyn Lang. Botany, Androgynous plant. 1821 S. Gray Arr. Brit. Pl. I. 44 Androgynous, having male and female organs on the same root, but not in the same flowers. 1837 Whewell Hist. Induct. Sc. xvii. iv. §2 The florets of composite flowers [are] formed on the type of an androgynous flower. 1881 Bentham in Jrnl. Lin. S. XVIII. 366 Spikelets..collected in androgynous heads. |