transvestite
pronunciation
How to pronounce transvestite in British English:
UK [trænzˈvestaɪt]
How to pronounce transvestite in American English:
US [trænsˈvɛsˌtaɪt, trænz-]
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- Noun:
- someone who adopts the dress or manner or sexual role of the opposite sex
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- Adjective:
- receiving sexual gratification from wearing clothing of the opposite sex
Word Origin
- transvestite
- transvestite: see travesty
- transvestite (n.)
- "person with a strong desire to dress in clothing of the opposite sex," 1922, from German Transvestit (1910), coined from Latin trans- "across" (see trans-) + vestire "to dress, to clothe" (see wear (v.)). As an adjective from 1925. Transvestism is first attested 1928. Also see travesty, which is the same word, older, and passed through French and Italian; it generally has a figurative use in English, but has been used in the literal sense of "wearing of the clothes of the opposite sex" (often as a means of concealment or disguise) since at least 1823, and travestiment "wearing of the dress of the opposite sex" is recorded by 1832. Among the older clinical words for it was Eonism "transvestism, especially of a man" (1913), from Chevalier Charles d'Eon, French adventurer and diplomat (1728-1810) who was anatomically male but later in life lived and dressed as a woman (and claimed to be one).
Example
- 1. I have this friend who 's a transvestite .
- 2. She is a transvestite , isn 't she ?
- 3. He 's the winner of thailand 's miss transvestite contest .
- 4. Jason is a transvestite and he likes to have fun at the pub .
- 5. The party 's most flamboyant lawmaker is a transvestite actor and singer .