androgynous

the word androgynous is a modern english formation built directly from classical greek components. it combines andro, derived from the greek word for 'man', and gyn, from the greek for 'woman', into a single compound root. the adjectival suffix ous, of latin origin, is then appended to mean 'characterized by'. the term's literal construction, 'having the qualities of both male and female', is a direct reflection of its current abstract meaning, describing the blending or coexistence of masculine and feminine traits. this logical, almost mathematical combination of ancient roots makes its semantic journey from ancient greek to modern english remarkably transparent.

Structure: andro (male) + gyn (female) + ous (adjective suffix) andro (from greek andr-, andros, meaning 'man, male'); gyn (from greek gynē, meaning 'woman, female'); ous (a suffix of latin origin forming adjectives, meaning 'full of, having the qualities of').