Emasculate
/ɪˈmæskjəleɪt/noun
To deprive someone or something of strength, authority, or traditionally masculine qualities; literally, to castrate.
Did you know?In Latin, emasculare could refer literally to castration, while later English broadened the word to mean weakening someone’s authority, confidence, or perceived power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mēs-
“A reconstructed root associated with male or masculine identity”
Classical Latin
Latin
mās
“Male; a male person or animal”
Classical Latin
Latin
masculus
“Male or masculine; the diminutive form of mās”
Classical Latin
Latin
ēmāsculāre
“To make male-less; to castrate or deprive of masculine qualities”
12th–13th Century
Old French
emasculer
“To castrate or deprive of manly strength”
17th Century
English
emasculate
“To castrate, weaken, or deprive of vigor or authority”
Modern English
English
emasculate
“To weaken someone’s confidence, power, or traditionally masculine identity”