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Webster 1913 Edition
Hermaphrodite
Her-maph′ro-dite
,Noun.
[L.
hermaphroditus
, Gr. [GREEK], so called from the mythical story that Hermaphroditus
, son of Hermes and Aphrodite, when bathing, became joined in one body with Salmacis, the nymph of a fountain in Caria: cf. F. hermaphrodite
.] (Biol.)
An individual which has the attributes of both male and female, or which unites in itself the two sexes; an animal or plant having the parts of generation of both sexes, as when a flower contains both the stamens and pistil within the same calyx, or on the same receptacle. In some cases reproduction may take place without the union of the distinct individuals. In the animal kingdom true hermaphrodites are found only among the invertebrates. See Illust. in Appendix, under Helminths.
Her-maph′ro-dite
,Adj.
Including, or being of, both sexes;
as, an
. hermaphrodite
animal or flowerWebster 1828 Edition
Hermaphrodite
HERMAPH'RODITE
,Noun.
1.
A human being, having the parts of generation both of male and female. The term is applied also to other animals characterized by a similar formation.2.
In botany, a flower that contains both the anther and the stigma, or the supposed male and female organs of generation, within the same calyx or on the same receptacle.3.
A plant that has only hermaphrodite flowers.HERMAPH'RODITE
,Adj.
Definition 2024
hermaphrodite
hermaphrodite
English
Noun
hermaphrodite (plural hermaphrodites)
- An individual or organism possessing ambiguous sexual organs, typically including both types of gonads. [from late 14th c.]
- An earthworm is a hermaphrodite.
- A person or thing possessing two opposing qualities.
- (nautical) A hermaphrodite brig.
- A farm wagon convertible to multiple purposes.
Usage notes
- Like many terms that start with a non-silent h but have emphasis on their second syllable, some people precede hermaphrodite with an, others with a.
- Intersex is now the preferred term for human description.
- Compare androgyne and genderqueer.
Synonyms
- maphrodite, morphodite, mophrodite (slang)
- androgyne
- gynandromorph
- intersex (noun)
Derived terms
terms derived from hermaphrodite
Translations
individual or organism having both male and female gonads
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person or thing possessing two opposing qualities
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Adjective
hermaphrodite (comparative more hermaphrodite, superlative most hermaphrodite)
- (of an individual organism) Having gender-ambiguous sexual organs, typically including both types of gonads.
- Combining two opposing qualities.
Synonyms
Translations
having both male and female gonads
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combining two opposing qualities
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See also
- berdache, two-spirit (two-spirits were formerly often called hermaphrodites)
- genderqueer
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɛʁ.ma.fʁɔ.dit/
Adjective
hermaphrodite m, f (plural hermaphrodites)
Noun
hermaphrodite m, f (plural hermaphrodites)