Androgenize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To cause the expression of physical traits generally related to male hormones
2. To promote the appearance of features usually associated with male sex characteristics
3. To stimulate the growth of traits typically associated with male hormones and biology

Etymology: "Androgenize" is built from "androgen," a term for male sex hormones, plus the suffix "-ize," which turns a noun into a verb meaning to make, cause, or treat in a certain way. The result is a verb meaning to make something develop male characteristics. The first part deserves a closer look. "Androgen" combines the Greek "anēr," meaning man (in the sense of adult male), with the suffix "-gen," meaning something that produces or gives rise to something. Literally, an androgen is a "male-producer," a substance that generates masculine traits. The word "androgen" was coined for these hormones, so the verb is a modern scientific formation rather than an ancient one. Because the word is a straightforward combination of an existing noun and a productive suffix, its meaning follows directly from its parts: to androgenize something is to cause it to take on male characteristics through androgens.

Synonyms: masculinize, hormonalize, testosteronize

Antonyms: feminize, estrogenize