effæminacy

English

Noun

effæminacy (countable and uncountable, plural effæminacies)

1. Obsolete spelling of effeminacy
   • 1594, Richard Beacon, Solon His Follie, or a Politique Discourse, Touching the Reformation of Common-Weales Conquered, Declined or Corrupted, Oxford: […] Ioseph Barnes, pages 63–64 (no ligatures at EEBO):

     Neither the one nor the other may be founde ſo happy and permanent, but at the laſt, with the apple in his fulripenes, they fall with their owne weight and poyſe to the ground; the one by diſcord and mutinies of the ſoldiours, for that their citizens are rendred bold by the continual vſe and trayning in military diſcipline; the other by effeminacie, eaſe, reſt, and ſecurity, haſteneth in like maner vnto mutinies and diſcords, as to his laſt ruine; ſo as either by a fatall deſtinie (as it were) imbraceth there owne confuſion: but not after one manner; for the one like vnto a flowre, or the pride of youth, in the height of his glory, vaniſheth, away, and leaveth the image of true glory, as a lively picture, to inveſt a perpetuall memory of a worthy and excellent Inſtitution. But the common-weale which in his firſt Inſtitution aymeth only at peace and permanency, with effæminacy, diſcorde, and mutinies, bredde by long eaſe, reſt, and ſecurity, embraceth with the other his final & laſt deſtruction, but leaveth not the like memory of his Inſtitution.

   • 1643, William Prynne, The Fourth Part of the Soveraigne Povver of Parliaments and Kingdomes. Wherein the Parliaments Right and Interest in Ordering the Militia, Forts, Ships, Magazins, and Great Offices of the Realme, Is Manifested by Some Fresh Records in Way of Supplement: […]. Together with an Appendix; Manifesting by Sundry Histories and Foraine Authorities, […]., London: […] Michael Sparke Senior, page 81:

     Ladiſlaus the fourth, giving himſelfe to all effæminacy, luxury, and Harlots, became odious to his Barons, Nobles, People, for which he was excommunicated by Firmanus the Popes Legat, that he might live Chriſtianly and Chaſtly; but he reforming not, was ſoone after (in the yeere 1290.) ſlaine by the Cumans and his Kingdome infeſted with civill warres.

   • 1655, Edward Waterhouse, A Modest Discourse, of the Piety, Charity & Policy of Elder Times and Christians. Together with Those Their Vertues Paralleled by Christian Members of the Church of England., London: […] A. M. for Simon Miller, page 226 (no ligatures at EEBO):

     And Paterculus ſeconds him, Rome is not what it was, Watchings are turned to dead ſleeps, courage is drowned in effæminacy, induſtry invaded by idleneſſe.

   • 1668, J[oseph] G[lanvill], A Blow at Modern Sadducism in Some Philosophical Considerations about Witchcraft. To Which Is Added, the Relation of the Fam’d Disturbance by the Drummer, in the house of Mr. John Mompesson: With Some Reflections on Drollery and Atheisme., London: […] E. C. for James Collins, errata and page 144 (no ligatures at EEBO):

     p. 144. l. 14. r. effæminacies […] For that trivial, and pedling way of Fancy, and Humour, to which they are addicted, emaſculates their mindes, and makes them ſuperficial, flaſhy, and phantaſtical, by imploying them upon effæmancies, and little apiſh fooleries.

   • 1683, Philotheus Physiologus [pseudonym; Thomas Tryon], The Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness, or, A Discourse of Temperance and the Particular Nature of All Things Requisit for the Life of Man, […]. To Which Is Added, A Treatise of Most Sorts of English Herbs, with Several Other Remarkable and Most Useful Observations, […], London: […] Andrew Sowle, page 288:

     Therefore thoſe that uſe themſelves to a mean in Cloathing have better Appetites, are longer breath’d, ſtronger, and not ſo apt to receive Injuries by every ſmall accident, as thoſe that inure themſelves to very warm Cloathes, hot Houſes, an idle soſt Life, and the like Effæminacies.

   • 1690, J[ohn] B[utler], Bellua Marina: or the Monstrous Beast Which Arose out of the Sea. Being an Historical Description of the Papal Empire, as It Is Originally Copied out of the Prophesies of Holy Writ. Together with an Epitome of the Lives of All the Popes, Who Have Reigned in the Church Empire, for These Last 900 Years, from the Time This Beast Began to Put Forth His Ten Horns at Roma., London: […] George Croom, page 142 (no ligatures at EEBO):

     For ſome by exceſſive pride of Heart, ſuch as the Hadrian’s, Leo’s, Nicholas, Gregory, & Others; and others by as exceſſive luxury, & effæminacy ſuch as were Ioanna, & the Iohn’s, Lando, Sergius, Chriſtopher, and a whole rolle of ſuch, of whom nothing is recorded, but that they did eat & drinke, & ſleepe & riſe up to play, & ſo dyed: Had exceedingly drawne downe the wrath of God upon the whole Church.

   • 1705, [Lewis] Maidwell, An Essay upon the Necessity and Excellency of Education. With an Account of Erecting the Royal Mathematical Schole Recommended by His Royal Highness; Lord High Admiral of England, &c. Upon a Report from the Navy Board, Declaring, Amongst Other Advantages to the Nation, the Particular Services of Such a Foundation, to the Royal Navy of England, in Its Several Capacitys., London: […] S B. and J. B., page 15:

     Beſides, Domeſtic Effæminacy relaxes the Tone of the Mind, and the Mothers Indulgence often fixes the Rickets in Little Maſters Head, by which he grows fit for nothing but an Eldeſt Son.