masculinized
Meaning
to cause to develop typically male physical characteristics or behaviors
to make something have qualities traditionally considered typical of or appropriate to men
Structure
Usage
the hormone treatment masculinized her voice and increased her body hair.
some critics argue that the corporate culture has been masculinized, valuing aggression over collaboration.
the disease can sometimes lead to a condition where the adrenal glands produce excess androgens, potentially masculinizing a female fetus.
Etymology
the word's journey begins with the latin masculus, meaning 'male', which is a diminutive of mas, meaning 'male' or 'man'. this root passed into late latin as masculinus, entering english as 'masculine'. the addition of the greek-derived suffix -ize, a prolific verb-maker in english meaning 'to cause to become', transforms the adjective into a verb meaning 'to make masculine'. the final -ed suffix marks it for past tense or participial use. thus, the literal construction 'made male' evolved into the modern abstract sense of imparting male-associated physical traits or cultural qualities.
Analysis
masculin (from latin masculinus, meaning 'male, masculine', itself from masculus, 'male'); ize (verb-forming suffix from greek -izein, via latin -izare, meaning 'to render, to make'); ed (suffix from old english -ed, -od, -ad, indicating past tense or past participle).