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NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 31, 2024): Women’s History Month
Q: The English language developed in a patriarchal society, so many words in our language were traditionally assumed to be male, and turned into female versions by adding a prefix or suffix. Waiter and waitress, comedian and comedienne — those are just two examples of the many stereotypically “male” words that become new “female words” by adding a suffix.
There is a common English word that works the opposite way. What is the common English word that is generally used to refer exclusively to women, but which becomes male when a two-letter suffix is added?
The answer hit me squarely on the forehead.
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