a. [f. L. androgyn-us (see ANDROGYNE) + -OUS.]
1. Uniting the (physical) characters of both sexes, at once male and female; hermaphrodite.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., ¶ 69. Nature … contenteth herself with that which is androgynous and promiscuous.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Many of the rabbins are of opinion that Adam was created androgynous.
1828. Kirby & Spence, Entomol., IV. xlii. 167. To suppose these insects are truly androgynous, as strictly uniting both sexes in one.
1844. For. Q. Rev., XXXIII. 273. Madame Sand has been known to travel in an androgynous costume.
1878. Besant & Rice, Celia’s Arb., I. xiii. 185. A woman without the mystical veil is no woman, but a creature androgynous.
† 2. Hence, of men: Womanish, effeminate. Obs.
1628. Prynne, Love-Lockes, 49. Clemens condemnes all such for androginous and effeminate persons.
3. Astrol.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 86. Planets masculine, feminine, androgynous.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The astrologers also give the appellation androgynous to such of the planets as are sometimes hot, and sometimes cold.
1819. Pantolog., s.v., Mercury is reckoned androgynous, being hot and dry when near the Sun, cold and moist when near the moon.
4. Bot. Bearing both stamens and pistils in the same flower, or on the same plant.
1793. Martyn, Lang. Botany, Androgynous plant.
1821. S. Gray, Arr. Brit. Pl., I. 44. Androgynous, having male and female organs on the same root, but not in the same flowers.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc., XVII. iv. § 2. The florets of composite flowers [are] formed on the type of an androgynous flower.
1881. G. Bentham, in Jrnl. Lin. S., XVIII. 366. Spikelets very small and sessile, collected in androgynous heads or oblong spikes.
