Gyne

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A prefix indicating a connection to women or femininity in various contexts
2. A Greek-derived root that signifies elements pertaining to the female gender and related concepts
3. A combining form used to indicate a relationship to women or femininity in words

Etymology: The Greek "gunē" meant simply "woman" or "female," and it survives in English through a surprising pair of relatives: "queen" and "quean." Both descend from the same ancient root, which once referred to a woman of any station. "Quean" drifted into a term for a disreputable woman, while "queen" rose to royalty, so a single Greek word split into a dignified title and an insult. English took the Greek form itself as a combining element, which you see in "gynecologist" and "gynecomastia." The clipped form "gyne" now stands alone as a prefix, so that words built on it concern women or femininity, such as a medical specialty for the female body or the development of breast tissue in a male.

Synonyms: female, woman, feminine

Antonyms: male, man, masculine