all-female

The compound adjective "all-female" is a modern English formation built from two native elements. "All" derives from the Proto-Germanic allaz, carrying the core sense of "whole" or "entire," which has remained remarkably stable. "Female" entered English via Old French from the Latin femina, meaning "woman." The logic of the compound is transparent and descriptive: it literally means "entirely consisting of women," directly combining the concept of totality with the specific gender classification to describe groups, teams, or ensembles.

Structure: all (entirely) + female (woman) - all: From Old English eall, meaning "entire, whole, every." It functions as an intensifying prefix indicating completeness. - female: From Latin femella, a diminutive of femina ("woman"). It functions as the core noun element, specifying the gender.