gender etymology

Etymology

The word "gender" derives from the Latin word "genus," which means "kind" or "type." In the context of biology, genus refers to a taxonomic rank below family and above species.

Meaning and Origin

In its biological sense, gender refers to the classification of organisms based on their reproductive functions and characteristics. It is typically used to distinguish between males and females. In the 14th century, the term "gender" was introduced into English from the French word "genre," which retains the Latin "genus" root.

Linguistic Evolution

Over time, the word "gender" acquired broader meanings:

• Grammatical Gender: In linguistics, gender refers to the grammatical classification of nouns into masculine, feminine, or neuter categories. This usage dates back to the Roman Empire, where Latin grammar assigned genders to nouns.
• Sexual Identity: In the late 20th century, the term "gender" began to be used to describe one's self-perceived gender identity, which may or may not align with their assigned sex at birth. This shift in usage reflected the growing awareness and understanding of transgender and non-binary individuals.
• Social Construct: Today, gender is widely recognized as a social construct, influenced by cultural, historical, and individual factors. It encompasses both biological characteristics and socially determined roles, expectations, and identities.

gender relate terms

• sound

  Etymology From Middle English sound from Old English sund from Proto Germanic sunðaz

• gender

  Etymology The word gender derives from the Latin word genus which means kind or t

• thunder

  Etymology The word thunder comes from the Old English word þunor which is derived f

• spindle

  Etymology The word spindle comes from the Old English word spindel which in turn der

• kindred

  Etymology Old English cynnræden Proto Germanic kunja raðjaz Meaning Family

• strand

  Etymology The English word strand has Germanic origins and is related to the Proto Germ

• runnel

  Etymology Old English rinnel stream brook Middle English rinell Modern English runne

• swoon

  Etymology Middle English swonen from Old English swōgan meaning to sigh sound roa

• powder

  Etymology The word powder originates from the Old French word poudre which itself de

• meddle

  Etymology Middle English medelen from Old English medeltōn from Proto Germanic m

• tender

  Etymology The word tender comes from the Old French verb tendre meaning to stretch

• remainder

  Etymology The word remainder derives from the Latin word remaneō which means to r

• riband

  Etymology Old French riban Late Latin ribanus Possibly from Medieval Latin ribandum

• jaundice

  Etymology The word jaundice is derived from the Old French word jaune meaning yell

• spider

  Etymology The word spider originates from the Middle English spither c 1200 deri

• lender

  Etymology Middle English lendere from Old Norse lendari from lenda loan Germanic

• generation

  Etymology The word generation comes from the Latin word generatio which means a beg

• genre

  Etymology The word genre derives from the Old French word gengre which in turn come

• masculine

  Etymology Latin masculus meaning male manly Proto Indo European root ma

• neuter

  Etymology The word neuter derives from the Latin word neuter which itself originate

• feminine

  Etymology The word feminine comes from the Latin word femininus meaning of or rela

• tenure

  Etymology Latin tenura holding tenure possession Old French tenure holding Midd