To remove or disable the reproductive organs of a male animal or person, or to remove the power or effectiveness from something.
From Latin 'castrare,' possibly from Hittite origin. The literal meaning emerged around the Roman era, with metaphorical uses developing to mean 'to weaken or diminish.'
Castration has been used throughout history for everything from creating eunuchs in imperial courts to animal husbandry—but in biology it reveals something crucial: the testes' role isn't just reproduction but also hormone production that affects personality and physiology.
Castration enforced gendered power hierarchies across cultures—historically imposed on men to control sexuality, labor, and dominance. When applied metaphorically to diminish masculinity, it reflects deeper anxieties about gendered power.
Use literally only for medical/biological contexts. Avoid as metaphor for weakening or disempowering; prefer 'undermine,' 'weaken,' or 'diminish.'
["weaken","undermine","diminish","reduce capability"]
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