WAYS OF FORMING THE FEMININE OF NOUNS

There are three ways of forming the Feminine of nouns:

(1) By using an entirely different word; as

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Bachelor	{Maid (old use) Spinster	Hart Horse	Roe mare
Boy	Girl	Husband	Wife
Brother	Sister	King	Queen
Buck	Doe	Lord	Lady
Bull (or ox)	Cow	Man	Woman
Bullock	Heifer	Monk (or friar)	Nun
Cock	Hen	Nephew	Niece
Colt	Filly	Papa	Mamma(old use)
Daddy	Mummy	Ram	Ewe
Dog	Bitch	Sir	Madam
Drake	Duck	Son	Daughter
Eari	Countess	Stag	Hind
Father	Mother	Uncle	Aunt
Gander	Goose	Wizard	Witch
Gentleman	lady

(1)    By adding a syllable (- ess, -ine, -trix, -a, etc) as,

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Author	Authoress	Mayor	Mayoress
Baron	Baroness	Patron	Patroness
Count	Countess	Peer	Peeress
Giant	Giantess	Poet	Poetess
Heir	Heiress	Priest	Priestess
Host	Hostess	Prophet	Prophetess
Jew	Jewess	Shepherd	Shepherdess
Lion	Lioness	Steward	Stewardess
Manager	Manageress	Viscount	Viscountess

[Note that in the following –ess is added after dropping the vowel of the masculine ending.

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Actor	Actress	Preceptor	Preceptress
Benefactor	Benefactress	Prince	Princess
Conductor	Conductress	Songster	Songstress
Enchanter	Enchantress	Tempter	Temptress
Founder	Founders	Seamaster	Seamstress
Hunter	Huntress	Tiger	Tigress
Instructor	Instructress	Traitor	Traitress
Negro	Negress	Waiter	Waitress
Abbot	Abbess	Master	Mistress
Duke	Duchess	Murderer	Murderess
Emperor	Empress	Sorcerer	sorceress

Note – the suffix –ess is the commonest suffix used to form feminine nouns, from the masculine, and is the only which we now use in forming a new feminine noun.

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Hero	Heroine	Sultan	Sultana
Testator	Testatrix	Signor	Signora
Czar	Czarina	Fox	vixen

(2)    By placing a word before or after; as,

Masculine	Feminine	Masculine	Feminine
Grandfather	Grandmother	Milkman	Milkwoman
Great uncle	Greataunt	Peacock	Peahen
Manservant	Maidservant	Salesman	Saleswoman
Landlord	Landlady	Washerman	washerwoman