a. and adv. [f. WOMAN sb. + -LIKE.] A. adj. Like, resembling, or characteristic of a woman or women; in derogatory use, womanish, effeminate.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 154/2. Femynyne, or woman lyke, muliebris.
1550. Crowley, Way to Wealth, 315. Fingered ladies, whose womanlike behauiour … ought to be a lighte to al women.
1561. T. Norton, trans. Calvin’s Inst., IV. xix. 156 b. Clerkes were commaunded … to sheare their head … that they should not beare any shewe of womanlyke trimming.
1597. Drayton, Heroical Ep., Isab. to Mortimer, Notes 20 b. His behauiour and attire euer so womanlike, to please the eye of his lasciuious Prince.
1624. Capt. J. Smith, Virginia, 31. Scorning to be seene in any woman-like exercise.
1647. Hexham, I. Womanlike, delicate and tender.
1825. Scott, Talism., xiv. Ashamed at being surprised in a womanlike expression of sorrow, Sir Kenneth dashed his tears indignantly aside.
1878. W. R. S. Ralston, in Contemp. Rev., Feb., 521. Trees were credited with woman-like inhabitants capable of doing good and ill.
1880. L. Wallace, Ben-Hur, 516. The tearful woman-like face of the Christ.
B. adv. In a manner characteristic of women; after the fashion of women; like a woman.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 365. Sho was not ferd for swerd nor wownd, nor wepid wommanlyke.
1556. Phaër, Æneid., IV. (1558), I iv b. This pranking Paris fyne … With grekishe wymple pynkyd, womanlyke.
1635. Life Long Meg of Westm. (1872), 43. She … dressed him full womanlike.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, I. xxxvii. 28. But she a nobler fate explored, Nor woman-like beheld the deathful sword.
1857. W. Collins, Dead Secret, V. iv. (1861), 221. ‘Of course,’ cried Rosamond, looking, womanlike, straight on to the purpose she had in view.
1898. ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xxix. 303. He would not, it appeared, sit down without her permission. And, womanlike, she gave it.
