fēmĭna (noun F) : from fe-, fev-, = Gr. φύ-ω, to produce; whence: fetus, fecundus, faenus, felix; cf. Sanscr. bhuas, bhavas, to become; Lat. fi-o, fu-turus
* A female.
* Lit.
* Of human beings, a female, woman (cf.: uxor, mulier, matrona; conjux, marita): ut a prima congressione maris et feminae ... ordiar,Cic. Rep. 1, 24: et mares deos et feminas esse dicitis,id. N. D. 1, 34, 95: ambiguus fuerit modo vir, modo femina Sithon,Ov. M. 4, 280; cf. Lucr. 4, 819: in claris viris et feminis,Cic. Tusc. 1, 12, 27: pulchritudine eximiā femina,id. Div. 1, 25, 52: feminae notitiam habere,Caes. B. G. 6, 21 fin.: naturam feminarum omnem castitatem pati,Cic. Leg. 2, 12, 29; cf. id. Rep. 3, 10 fin.: bona,id. Phil. 3, 6, 16; cf.: praestantissima omnium feminarum,id. Fam. 5, 8, 2: sanctissima atque optima,id. Phil. 3, 6, 16: probatissima,id. Caecin. 4, 10: primaria,id. Fam. 5, 11, 2: decreta super jugandis feminis,Hor. C. S. 19: varium et mutabile semper femina,Verg. A. 4, 570: tunc femina simplex,the female character undisguised,Juv. 6, 327.—Adj.: inter quas Danai femina turba senis,Prop. 2, 31 (3, 29), 4.—Applied as a term of reproach to effeminate men, Ov. M. 12, 470; Sil. 2, 361; Suet. Caes. 22; Just. 1, 3; Curt. 3, 10 fin. al.
* Transf., in the lang. of nat. hist., of plants and minerals: mas in palmite floret, femina citra florem germinat tantum spicae modo,Plin. 13, 4, 7, § 31; ib. § 34; so of other plants,id. 16, 33, 60, § 139; 16, 34, 62, § 145: 21, 10, 32, § 58 et saep.: in omni genere (carbunculorum) masculi appellantur acriores, et feminae languidius refulgentes,Plin. 37, 7, 25, § 92; of the loadstone,id. 36, 16, 25, § 128.—In mechanics, cardo femina, different from cardo masculus (v. cardo, 2), Vitr. 9, 9 med.
* In gram., the feminine gender, Quint. 1, 6, 12; 1, 4, 24.

s. TLL