gynaeceum

¹

[ jin-uh-see-uhm, gahy-nuh-, jahy-nuh- ]

noun

, plural gyn·ae·ce·a [jin-, uh, -, see, -, uh, gahy-n, uh, -, jahy-n, uh, -].

1. (among the ancient Greeks) the part of a dwelling used by women.

gynaeceum

²

[ jin-uh-see-uhm, gahy-nuh-, jahy-nuh- ]

noun

, Botany.

, plural gyn·ae·ce·a [jin-, uh, -, see, -, uh, gahy-n, uh, -, jahy-n, uh, -].

1. gynoecium.

gynaeceum

/ ˌdʒaɪnɪˈsiːəm /

noun

1. (in ancient Greece and Rome) the inner section of a house, used as women's quarters
2. dʒaɪˈniːsɪəmɡaɪ- a variant spelling of gynoecium

Word History and Origins

Origin of gynaeceum¹

1600–10; < Latin gynaecēum < Greek gynaikeíon, equivalent to gynaik- (stem of gynḗ ) woman + -eion noun suffix of place

Word History and Origins

Origin of gynaeceum¹

C17: from Latin: women's apartments, from Greek gunaikeion, from gunē a woman

Example Sentences

The elusive Italian author Elena Ferrante has said that women writers tend to be shut “in a literary gynaeceum” by the books industry, even though “we know how to think, we know how to tell stories, we know how to write them as well as, if not better, than men”.

From The Guardian

The truth is that even the publishing industry and the media are convinced of this commonplace; both tend to shut women who write away in a literary gynaeceum.

From The Guardian

“What if, instead, we’re dealing with a new tradition of women writers who are becoming more competent, more effective, are growing tired of the literary gynaeceum and are on furlough from gender stereotypes?” she asked.

From The Guardian

Section in the Gynaeceum 181 59.

From Project Gutenberg

Sections in the Parecclesion—Plan of Dome in the Gynaeceum 163 Church of S. Theodosia 54.

From Project Gutenberg