424. Women

See also 253. MALE ; 255. MANKIND ; 281. MOTHER ; 327. PREGNANCY ; 364. SEX ; 418. WIFE .

bluestockingism

1. the state of being a pedantic or literal-minded woman.

2. behavior characteristic of such a woman. — bluestocking , n., adj.

coverture

Law. the status of a married woman.

emmenology

that branch of medicine that deals with menstruation and its related disorders.

femicide

1. the murder of a woman.

2. the murderer of a woman. Also called gynecide, gynaecide . — femicidal , adj.

gunocracy

gynecocracy.

gynarchy

a form of government by a woman or women. Also called gynecocracy . — gynarchic , adj.

gynecocracy

rule by women. Also called gunocracy, gyneocracy, gynaeocracy .

gynecolatry, gynaecolatry

the worship of women. Also gyneolatry . — gynecolater , n.

gynecology, gynaecology

the branch of medical science that studies the diseases of women, especially of the reproductive organs. — gynecologist , n. — gynecologic, gynecological , adj.

gynecopathy, gynaecopathy

any illness that afflicts only women. — gynecopathic, gynaecopathic , adj.

gynephobia, gynophobia

an abnormal fear or hatred of women. — gynephobe , n.

gyniatrics

the medical field dealing with women’s dieases.

hoydenism

ill-bred, boisterous, or tomboyish behavior in a woman. — hoyden , n. — hoydenish , adj.

maenadism

behavior characteristic of a maenad or bacchante; raging or wild behavior in a woman.

matriarchate

1. a matriarchal form of government.

2. a family, tribe, or other social group ruled by a matriarch or matriarchs. — matriarchic , adj.

matriarchy

1. a community in which the mother or oldest female is the supreme authority, and descent is traced through the female line.

2. government by females, with one as supreme. — matriarchist , n. — matriarchic, matriarchical , adj.

misogyny

a hatred of women — misogynist , n.

nubility

the condition of being marriageable, especially in reference to a woman’s age or physical development. — nubile , adj.

parthenolatry

the worship of virgins.

parthenology

Physiology. the study of virginity.

philogyny

a love of or liking for women. — philogynist , n. — philogynous , adj.

pudicity

modesty, especially chastity or chastefulness.

sexism

the practice of discriminating against women in job opportunities, salary levels and increases, and in other matters now generally considered to be equally the right of women. — sexist , n., adj.

sorority

a fellowship or association of women, as for a benevolent or charitable purpose or at a college.

suffragettism

militant advocacy of suffrage for women. See also 322. POLITICS .