Hermaphroditic
/ˌhɜːr.mæf.rəˈdɪt.ɪk/noun
Having both male and female reproductive organs or characteristics.
Did you know?The term is rooted in Greek mythology, where Hermaphroditus was associated with the merging of male and female forms, and the word entered English through learned Latin rather than everyday speech.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Hermaphroditos
“A mythological figure associated with the union of male and female traits”
Late Greek
Greek
hermaphroditos
“An androgynous or dual-sexed being”
Latin
Latin
hermaphroditus
“Hermaphrodite; a person or creature with both male and female characteristics”
16th Century
English
hermaphrodite
“A person or animal exhibiting both male and female sex characteristics”
17th Century
English
hermaphroditic
“Relating to or having both male and female reproductive organs or characteristics”
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