All about French Nouns: Focus on Gender

by
Mary Naber Burns

ISBN: 1-58112-871-1

Universal Publishers
1998
All about French Nouns: Focus on Gender

Copyright (c) 1998 Mary Naber Burns

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 1-58112-871-1

Universal Publishers/UPUBLISH.COM
1998
 ALL ABOUT FRENCH NOUNS: FOCUS ON GENDER

by

Mary Naber Burns

Of the forty-three thousand words in a comprehensive French

dictionary, almost thirty-three thousand are nouns. Determining the
gender of these nouns is one of the great stumbling blocks on the road to
learning French. Although it is true that gender becomes a factor in
dealing with articles, adjectives, past participles and pronouns, these four
parts of speech modify or refer to nouns, whether expressed or implied;
noun gender is always the initiating factor. Noun gender is the problem.
Burns--2

CONTENTS

The Two Basic Rules of Gender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The Optionals and the Basic Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Optional List (sex-determined nouns) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

The Feminine List (introduction) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Feminine List (exceptions to the masculine rule) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

The Masculine List (introduction) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Masculine List (exceptions to the feminine rule) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

The Homonyms (introduction) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Homonym List (meaning-determined nouns) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

The Masculine Rule List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

The Feminine Rule List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Feminized Nouns (equivalents of masculine nouns) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296

Statistics (rules versus exceptions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313

Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314

Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316

Abridged List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317

Optionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317

Feminine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318

Masculine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321

All Exact Cognates (7186, anglicized and alphabetized) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323

All Exceptions (both genders, alphabetized for reference) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365

Burns--3

Consistent with the Latin language tradition, the Spanish, Italian and
Portuguese languages use a for feminine noun endings and o for masculine
noun endings. There are a few additional feminine noun endings (easily
memorized), even fewer additional masculine noun endings, and few
exceptions to either basic rule.
In contrast, very few French nouns end in a or o, and those that do
are usually masculine in gender, whether they end in a or o. The French
language uses the whole alphabet for noun endings, and gender is basically
indeterminate. This is a factor that distinguishes the French language from
other Romance languages and makes it so difficult for English-speaking
people.
All About French Nouns: Focus on Gender confronts the French
gender problem and defines it in the most concise manner possible. It
provides a permanent source of reference and perhaps the only
comprehensive documentary evidence on the subject available today. As
such, it serves to confirm or deny previous notions about French gender.

Of the thirty-three thousand French nouns here considered, almost

thirty thousand can be easily and precisely identified. One thousand are
sex-determined, thus giving us an obvious option. The remaining
twenty-nine thousand follow two basic rules of gender and are listed
accordingly in this text. These rules generate a maximum number of
conforming nouns, as evidenced by the long lists of nouns on pages 89 to
212 (masculine rule list) and pages 212 to 296 (feminine rule list) and by
the rules statistics on page 313.
Burns--4

THE TWO BASIC RULES OF GENDER

Most nouns ending in a consonant or vowel (other than mute e) and

most verb-hyphenated nouns are masculine; the odds are 48-1, 9-1, and
51-1 respectively that such will be the case. Most nouns ending in mute
e are feminine; the odds are 2-1. Compare the relative value of the word
"most" in the two statements. It is well known that if we are to determine
gender with any accuracy whatsoever by observing mute e endings, we
must consider another factor, the letters preceding the mute e ending,
especially the penultimate (next-to-last) letter.
For example, nouns ending in ge, le, me, and re should be considered
masculine. In fact, the odds are 16-1 in the case of -ge and 10-1 in the case
of -me that the concerned noun in each case will be masculine (-age and
-isme are largely responsible for this). -le and -re nouns are more evenly
distributed between the genders; however, if a few broad exceptions are
memorized, the problem of almost equal distribution is minimized. -be,
-ze, -ke, and -xe should be considered masculine endings; however, nouns
with such endings are few in number and of negligible influence.
Therefore, when thinking in terms of "masculine," we might think in
terms of "glamor," a contrived catchword, a reminder of the four
penultimate letters of the ge, le, me, and re masculine endings. As for the
other four penultimate endings, bz might represent a speedwritten "biz" (as
in "show biz"), and kx, a speedwritten "kicks"; then we might create a
nonsense phrase beginning with glmr as speedwriting for "glamor": glmr
bz kx, a speedwritten "glamor biz kicks" idea. To this we might add
"consonants, vowels and hyphens," as objects of the speedwritten verb, kx,
to form a complete nonsense sentence, but no-nonsense rule: glmr bz kx
consonants, vowels, and hyphens. This is rule number one, the key rule,
the masculine rule.
(In the chart which follows, the aforementioned "broad exceptions"
are positioned below the letters or words of the masculine rule to which
they apply.)
Burns--5 The Two Basic Rules of Gender

g l m r b z k x consonants vowels hyphens

lle ère aison té
ale ure ion
ole
ule

Since the neuter gender does not exist in French (except for an
occasional pronoun) it is to be assumed, for our purposes, that "exception"
refers, and will continue to refer, to the opposite of either of two possible
genders. For example, in the above instance, lle, ale, ole, ule, ère, ure,
aison, ion, and té endings, listed as exceptions below the masculine rule,
are necessarily assumed to be feminine, and as feminine noun endings,
they will become a part of our feminine rule together with endings in any
letters of the alphabet other than g, l, m, r, b, z, k, x, followed by mute e.
(ae, je oe, qe, and we endings need not be considered at all; no such
endings exist in French.) Alphabetically then, the penultimate feminine
letters we should remember are c, d, é, f, h, i or y, n, p, s, t, u, v, each
followed, of course, by mute e. This then is rule number two, the feminine
rule.
Thus we have two basic rules, one masculine, in the form of a
statement; the other feminine, in the form of broad exceptions to the
masculine statement and an alphabetical sequence. Of the 32,995 nouns
we are considering, 29,848 follow these rules. We can identify them on
pages 89 through 295 and confirm the statistics on page 313.
But 3,147 renegade nouns remain. These are the particular (as
opposed to "broad") exceptions. We can identify them also, on pages 30
through 79, and confirm their statistics as well. Beyond that, to avoid the
old stumbling block--having to learn each noun in turn, one by one, the
traditional way--we can perceive them in phonetically-suffixated
mnemonic blocks, blocks not to stumble over, but to give access to
learning.
By way of introduction to this phonetic method of listing and the
block method of presentation, we begin by identifying the more than a
Burns--6 The Two Basic Rules of Gender

thousand "optional" nouns in the French language, thus achieving two

goals at once.
Burns--7

THE OPTIONALS AND THE BASIC METHOD

We can master the gender of optional nouns without concerning

ourselves with the basic rules and exceptions at all. All we need is one
simple rule: gender is determined by the sex of the person to whom we are
referring. Except for ordinal numbers and certain quantifiers which might
refer to things, optionals refer exclusively to persons. They are, shall we
say, "people nouns," and the endings are the same for both sexes. Take
the first noun, for example. If you are an Arab woman, you are une
Arabe; if a man, un Arabe. The be ending in this case, usually a
masculine ending demanding a masculine article and/or adjective, is dis-
regarded in favor of the sexual consideration. So it is with all optionals
with their various endings. And with these simple optionals we introduce
our basic method of presentation of all nouns in this text, as follows:
Single asterisks, double asterisks, and italics serve to amend certain
designated nouns, thus broadening the scope--and the value--of the long
lists contained here.
Single asterisks identify nouns which may function also as
adjectives. (If a noun is capitalized, it is to be understood that, as an
adjective, the initial letter would be lowercase.) Double asterisks identify
homonyms. For example, the first noun so marked, contumace, here listed
as an optional, means "contemptuous man" or "contemptuous woman." As
a noun ending in ce that follows the basic feminine rule, contumace
appears on a list of homonyms as a feminine noun, and is defined, in
accordance with gender and sentence context, as "willful contempt." The
double asterisks (**) remind us of the double life of this noun.
Italics identify exact cognates. For example, the first italicized
nouns, Tzigane, aide, and dilettante, are spelled exactly the same and have
the same meaning in English as they do in French. (Inexact cognates are
too numerous and too complex to be identified in a similar way.)
Optional endings are listed in a, e, i, o, u vowel order, as vowels
preceding alphabetized penultimate letters in mute e-ending words. For
example, notice in this optional list that, in general, nouns ending in the
Burns--8 The Optionals and the Basic Method

letter a plus alphabetized consonant plus mute e are followed by nouns

ending in the letter e plus alphabetized consonant plus mute e. These in
turn are followed by nouns ending in the letter i plus alphabetized
consonant plus mute e, followed by nouns ending in the letter o plus
alphabetized consonant plus mute e, finally by a few nouns ending in u
plus alphabetized consonant plus mute e. Often more than one letter stands
between the ordering vowel and the mute e vowel ending in which case
further alphabetizing of the letter or letters precedent to the penultimate
letter becomes necessary, and these nouns with extended endings always
follow nouns with three-letter endings, e.g., esclave (three-letter ending)
is followed by comptable with four.
In order to include “consonants, vowels, and hyphens” of the
masculine rule, the mute e-ending nouns are followed by consonant-ending
nouns, followed by vowel (other than mute e)-ending nouns. These are
arranged in alphabetical order in accordance with last letter. The
verb-hyphenated nouns complete the list
Whenever advisable, all nouns having the same endings are arranged
in alphabetical order in accordance with first letters, dictionary fashion
within their particular groups, as with the small group of verb-hyphenated
nouns. However, the minimal advantage of such an arrangement for most
noun groups is far outweighed by the significant advantage of having the
nouns arranged in accordance with context. Therefore, alphabetizing of
first letters is a secondary consideration. The primary consideration has
been to present the nouns phonetically in closely-related (and thus more
memorable) blocks.
Since we are dealing with endings, we are per se dealing with the
principal suffixes of the French language. These suffixes not only sound
alike, as the word "phonetic" suggests, but also are spelled alike and impart
the same shade of meaning to the noun to which they are attached. In a
phonetic list, these suffixes will naturally line up close together, thus
making possible block (as opposed to random) learning. Listing in
accordance with context is merely an extension of this natural advantage.
Dominant among the endings in this optional list are the familiar suf-
fixes: aire, ique, and especially iste.
Burns--9 The Optionals and the Basic Method

Certain rules of context will be found throughout all phonetic lists

that follow. Notice in the -ade group on the first page of optionals that
nomade and semi-nomade appear in a block, not only because they have
the same ending, but for the reason that they are closely related; whereas
camarade and malade appear in a block for the sole reason that they have
the same ending. Nouns in blocks such as the latter, which cannot find a
home with one or more closely-related nouns, will always appear last in
their various groups and in alphabetical order.
Although the relationship between a nomad and a semi-nomad is
obvious, many relationships in this list as well as in other lists that follow
are less obvious. If we include single isolate nouns as blocks, the first
"optional" block is a nationality block, let us say; the second, the same; the
third, shall we say, a personality block; the fourth and fifth blocks, we have
discussed above; the sixth, a block of eaters (of people, earth, horses, and
fish, respectively); the seventh, an unrelated block; the eighth, a block of
people with various head shapes, sizes, and problems; the ninth and tenth,
unrelated blocks; the eleventh, a block of lovers; the twelfth, a block of
maniacs; the thirteenth, an unrelated block; the fourteenth, a national
block; the fifteenth, an unrelated block; the sixteenth, a national block; the
seventeenth, a political block, the eighteenth, an unrelated block. And so
on.
This is the first of the phonetic lists. In addition to un Arabe or une
Arabe, here you will find many other nationals which, for convenience,
always come first in a given group. The optionals are an interesting group
to keep in mind. As "people nouns" ending in mute e almost exclusively,
they require no feminization. No need to add an e to Arabe when referring
to a female Arab, since not Arab but Arabe is the male form of the word
and therefore appropriate for the female form as well. Compare client
which needs to become cliente when referring to a woman, as do over two
thousand other nouns of similar pattern. (Feminized nouns such as cliente
are listed separately immediately following the usual feminine-rule nouns,
beginning on page 296.)
A few "people nouns" retain a single gender even when appropriate
for either gender and even when ending in mute e. Most of these nouns are
Burns--10 The Optionals and the Basic Method

masculine. For example, contrast those ending in iste in the masculine rule
list with those in the feminine rule list. To quote Bertrand Russell, "The
study of grammar...is capable of throwing far more light on philosophical
questions than is commonly supposed by philosophers." But the majority
of "people nouns" have not been thought of as the prerogative of the male
sex, as witness the optionals.
Burns--11

OPTIONAL LIST (sex-determined nouns)

Arabe* ** Arab kleptomane, cleptomane kleptomaniac

Mozarabe* Mozarab mégalomane* megalomaniac
monomane*, monomaniaque* monomaniac
Dace* Dacian, person from Dacia morphinomane* morphine addict
mythomane* mythomaniac
boniface* simple, artless person opiomane* opium addict
contumace** contemptuous person pyromane pyromaniac
toxicomane* toxicomaniac, drug addict
nomade* nomad
semi-nomade* semi-nomad bimane*(s) Bimana, two-handed animals
profane* ** outsider, black sheep
camarade comrade Tzigane*, Tsigane* Tzigane, gypsy
malade* sick person
Bulgare* ** Bulgarian
anthropophage* anthropophagist
géophage* geophagist, earth eater avare* avaricious person, miser
hippophage* hippophagist, horse eater barbare* barbarian
ichtyophage* ichthyophagist cathare* Cathar, medieval sect member

sauvage* savage Asiate Asian

Croate* Croat, Croatian
acrocéphale* acrocephalic person Dalmate* ** Dalmatian
anencéphale* anencephalic person Galate* Galatian
brachycéphale* brachycephalic person Spartiate* ** Spartan, austere person
dolichocéphale* dolichocephalic person
hydrocéphale* hydrocephalic person aristocrate* aristocrat
microcéphale* microcephalic person bureaucrate bureaucrat
démocrate* democrat, Democrat
cannibale* cannibal social-démocrate* Social-Democrat
physiocrate* Physiocrat
bigame* bigamist technocrate technocrat

anglomane* Angloman, English imitator acrobate acrobat

mélomane* music lover astigmate* astigmatic person
diplomate* ** diplomatic person
cocaïnomane cocaine addict éléate* Eleatic, Zeno adherent
dipsomane dipsomaniac numismate numismatist
érotomane* erotomaniac
éthéromane* ether addict Moldave* Moldavian
Burns--12 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

Morave* Moravian bénéficiaire* beneficiary

Scandinave* Scandinavian cessionnaire assignee
Slave* Slav commendataire* commendatary
Yougoslave* Yugoslavian dépositaire trustee, agent
distributaire* recipient, sharer
esclave* slave donataire donee, donation receiver
endossataire endorsee
comptable* accountant, bookkeeper indemnitaire indemnitee
contribuable* contributor, taxpayer indivisaire indivisible co-owner
insolvable* insolvent person légataire legatee
misérable* miserable person, indigent colégataire co-legatee
redevable* debtor, one who pays debt obligataire bondholder
portionnaire* inherited share claimer
coupable* culprit propriétaire owner, landlord
justiciable* justiciable person copropriétaire joint tenant
nu-propriétaire* bare owner
incapable* incompetent person renonciataire releasee
incollable* (slang) unshakeable person réservataire* heir or heiress
indésirable* undesirable person sociétaire* partner, shareholder
instable* unstable person
intouchable* untouchable person antiparlementaire* a rule opponent
ministrable* person becoming minister égalitaire* egalitarian
responsable* responsible person libertaire* libertarian, anarchist
vénérable* beatification candidate protestataire* protester, objecter
réactionnaire* reactionary
Malgache* Madagascan révolutionnaire* revolutionary
contre-révolutionnaire*
lâche* coward counter-revolutionary

autodidacte* autodidact antiquaire antiquarian

disquaire disc or record merchant
ladre* leper, miser entrepositaire* warehouse keeper
libraire bookseller
cafre* Caffre, Kafir manutentionnaire storekeeper
réceptionnaire* receiver of goods
podagre* ** person with gout
atrabilaire* atrabilarian
aide** aide, assistant autoritaire* authoritarian
aide-comptable accountant's aid humanitaire* humanitarian
littéraire* literary person
actionnaire shareholder sectaire* sectarian
aliénataire* alienee sédentaire* sedentary person
allocataire allocatee téméraire* daredevil
Burns--13 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

utilitaire* utilitarian cinquantenaire* ** 50-year-old person

velléitaire* erratic person sexagénaire* sexagenarian
septuagénaire* septuagenarian
bacillaire* tuberculous person octogénaire* octogenarian
grabataire* bed-ridden person nonagénaire* nonagenarian
hémorroïdaire* hemorrhoidal person centenaire* ** centenarian
poitrinaire* person with consumption
valétudinaire* invalid cosignataire* cosignatory, cosigner
contresignataire* countersigner
concussionnaire* extortioner signataire signatory
faussaire forger, deceiver
incendiaire* incendiary actuaire actuary
retardataire* latecomer, defaulter adjudicataire highest auction bidder
stellionataire* fraudulent seller adversaire adversary
amodiataire tenant farmer
convulsionnaire* convulsionary auxiliaire* auxiliary, assistant
coreligionnaire coreligionist bibliothécaire librarian
latitudinaire* latitudinarian capacitaire* legal competent
tertiaire* ** third order member célibataire* bachelor, single woman
traditionnaire a Bible interpreter délégataire delegate, appointee
visionnaire* visionary démissionnaire* person who resigns
destinataire addressee, recipient
intérimaire* temporary person feudataire feudatory, feudary vassal
stagiaire* probationer in profession fonctionnaire civil servant, officer
vacataire part-time helper gestionnaire* administrator
insulaire* insular, island inhabitant
locataire tenant mandataire mandatary, proxy, agent
colocataire joint tenant (renter) partenaire partner
sous-locataire subtenant pétitionnaire petitioner
prioritaire* person having priority
majoritaire* member of the majority publicitaire* publicizer, PR person
minoritaire* member of the minority rationnaire* person receiving ration
réclusionnaire confined laborer
archimillionnaire* very rich person secrétaire** secretary
milliardaire* billionaire statuaire* ** statue sculptor
millionnaire* millionaire surnuméraire* extra person
multimillionnaire* multimillionaire sursitaire deferred conscript
syndicataire* member of a union
demi-pensionnaire day boarder titulaire* titular, figurehead
pensionnaire school boarder, boarder universitaire* university professor

quadragénaire* quadragenarian Balte* person from Baltic Sea area

quinquagénaire* quinquagenarian
Burns--14 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

dilettante dilettante démoniaque* possessed person

érotomaniaque* erotomaniac
bibliographe bibliographer hypocondriaque* hypochondriac
biographe biographer maniaque* maniac
chorégraphe choreographer paranoïaque* paranoiac
lexicographe lexicographer
musicographe writer about music élégiaque* elegiac
polygraphe polygrapher simoniaque* simoniac
pornographe* pornographer
Sarde* Sardinian
calligraphe calligrapher
iconographe iconographer garde-barrière crossing gate operator
paléographe* paleographer, decipherer garde-malade sick nurse, attendant
archiviste-paléographe certified
paleographer of l'École des chartes comparse theatre walk-on, nonentity
photographe photographer parse* Parsee of India
typographe* typographer, printer
xylographe xylographer, an engraver Madécasse* Madecasser

cartographe cartographer, map maker mollasse* spineless, apathetic person

cosmographe cosmographer
géographe geographer chaste* chaste person
hydrographe* underwater mapper enthousiaste* enthusiast
océanographe oceanographer gymnaste gymnast
topographe topographer iconoclaste* iconoclast
uranographe uranographer
allopathe* allopathist, a doctor
dactylographe typist homéopathe* homeopathist, a doctor
mécanographe* programer, multicopier
sténographe stenographer névropathe* neurotic
psychopathe psychopath
démographe* demographer
ethnographe ethnographer télépathe* telepathist, medium

inapte* inept, unqualified person iconolâtre iconolater, image adorer

idolâtre* idolater
Bosniaque* Bosnian zoolâtre zoolater, animal worshiper
Déliaque* Delian, person from Delos
Tchécoslovaque* Czechoslovakian phoniatre doctor for voice problems
Valaque* Valachian psychiatre psychiatrist

braque* ** harebrained person jaune** person of yellow race, scab

cardiaque* cardiac patient
Burns--15 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

aéronaute aeronaut trentième* ** the thirtieth

astronaute astronaut quarantième* ** the fortieth
cosmonaute cosmonaut cinquantième* ** the fiftieth
soixantième* ** the sixtieth
chauve* bald person soixante-dixième* ** the seventieth
quatre-vingtième* ** the eightieth
faible* ** weak person quatre-vingt-dixième* ** the ninetieth
centième* ** the hundredth
maigre* ** meager or slim person millième* ** the thousandth
millionième* ** the millionth
Monégasque* Monacan milliardième* ** the billionth
billionième* ** the trillionth
Mède* Mede
combientième* (slang) what rank
bipède* ** biped person or animal énième* (slang) a great many
citharède zither-playing singer même* (slang) same person, same thing
tiède* tepid, lukewarm person
Hellène Greek, Hellene
athée* atheist Madrilène* Madrilenian
Ruthène* Ruthenian
infidèle* infidel Slovène* Yugoslavian
Turkmène* ** Turkoman
bohème* ** carefree person
allogène* person of another race
deuxième* ** the second indigène* native, indigene
troisième* ** the third
quatrième* ** the fourth anorexigène* anorexic
cinquième* ** the fifth schizophrène schizophrenic
sixième* ** the sixth
septième* ** the seventh catéchumène catechumen
huitième* ** the eighth sans-gêne** rude person
neuvième* ** the ninth
dixième* ** the tenth Berbère* ** Berber, a North African
onzième* ** the eleventh
douzième* ** the twelfth adultère* ** adulterer
treizième* ** the thirteenth congénère* congener
quatorzième* ** the fourteenth pubère* child at age of puberty
quinzième* ** the fifteenth
seizième* ** the sixteenth obèse* obese person
dix-septième* ** the seventeenth
dix-huitième* ** the eighteenth analphabète* analphabet, illiterate
dix-neuvième* ** the nineteenth arpète young apprentice
vingtième* ** the twentieth ascète ascetic
Burns--16 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

esthète esthete
interprète interpreter Este* Estonian
malhonnête* dishonest, rude person
porphyrogénète* person born to purple inceste* ** incestuous person
proxénète proxenet, negotiator
kinesthérapeute massage practitioner
éleve pupil thérapeute** therapist

balèze* (slang) tall, strong person velche*, welsch* ignoramus

Guèbre* Gueber, Zoroastrian Barbaresque* person from Barbary

espiègle* rogue, prankster romanesque* romantic person

bègue* stutterer aveugle* blind person

collègue colleague
neutre* neutral person
Belge* Belgian
ambidextre* ambidextrous person
rebelle* rebel
impie* impious person
Celte* ** Celt
Caraïbe Caribbean
adepte partisan, follower
complice* accomplice
Tchèque* ** Czech novice* novice

Serbe* Serb Numide* Numidian

concierge caretaker, doorman déicide* ** murderer of god

fratricide* ** murderer of sibling
externe* extern, day student homicide* ** murderer
interne* intern, resident student infanticide** murderer of child
matricide** murderer of mother
subalterne* subaltern, subordinate parricide* ** murderer of kin
régicide* ** murderer of king
après-guerre post-war period tyrannicide** murderer of tyrant
avant-guerre period before World War I or
World War II apatride* person without a country
entre-deux-guerres period between World perfide* perfidious person
War I and World War II
Kabyle* Kabyle, a North African
Perse* ** pre-Arab-invasion Persian
Burns--17 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

anglophile* anglophile stylite* stylite, a Christian ascetic

francophile* francophile sunnite Sunnite
germanophile* germanophile
russophile* russophile antisémite* antisemite
xénophile* xenophile hermaphrodite* hermaphrodite
hypocrite* hypocrite
bibliophile bibliophile néophyte neophyte
cinéphile movie buff préraphaélite* preraphaelite
colombophile* carrier pigeon fancier presbyte* presbyte
discophile lover of discs, records spirite* spiritualist
haltérophile* weight lifter
convive fellow diner, guest
difficile* difficult person
fossile* ** old fogey admissible* person eligible for test
imbécile* imbecile éligible* eligible, electable person
indocile* indocile person
hémophile* hemophiliac godiche* (slang) clumsy person
riche* rich person
anonyme* anonymous person
cacochyme* decrepit person bigle* cross-eyed person
intime* intimate, friend
mime mime prodigue* prodigal person, squanderer
minime* ** 13-15 year old sportsperson
pusillanime* pusillanimous person pupille** ward, minor with guardian

misogyne* misogynist Afro-Asiatique* Afro-Asiatic

Asiatique* Asiatic
Annamite* Annamite of Vietnam Britannique* Britisher
Ismaélite* Ismaelian Cyrénaïque* Cyrenean, Greek African
Israélite* Israelite Ibérique*, Ibère* Iberian
Moabite* Moabite Soviétique* Soviet Russian
Moscovite* Muscovite, Moscow person
Mozabite* **, Mzabite* ** Mzab person aboulique* person with aboulia
Sémite Semite, descendant of Shem agnosique* brain-damaged person
Sybarite* Sybarite, voluptuary albuminurique* albuminuric person
alcoolique* alcoholic
chi-ite* Shiite éthylique* alcoholic
kha-ridjite* follower of Islam sect amnésique* amnesiac
maronite* Maronite analgésique* ** pain-free person
melchite* Melchite anémique* anemic person
mennonite Mennonite aphasique* aphasic person
ophite Ophite, medieval sect member apoplectique* apoplectic person
préadamite* preadamite apraxique* apraxic person
Burns--18 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

arthritique* arthritic person psychasthénique* psychasthenic person

asthénique* asthenic, weak person prépsychotique* prepsychotic person
asthmatique* asthmatic person psychotique* psychotic
ataxique* ataxic person scorbutique* scorbutic person
boulimique* person with bulimia strabique* person with strabism
Brightique* Bright's disease person syphilitique* person with syphilis
bronchitique* person with bronchitis tabétique* tabetic person
cachectique* cachectic person
cataleptique* cataleptic person agnostique* agnostic
chlorotique* chlorotic person catholique* Catholic
cholérique* person with cholera dogmatique* ** dogmatist
choréique* person with chorea extatique* ecstatic
colérique* choleric person gnostique* Gnostic
coxalgique* person with coxalgia hérétique* heretic
cyclothymique* manic-depressive laïque* lay person
diabétique* diabetic person mystique* ** mystic
diphtérique* person with diphtheria sceptique* sceptic
dysentérique* person with dysentery schismatique* schismatic
dyspeptique*, dyspepsique* dyspeptic
dysurique* dysuric person apolitique* person not in politics
éléphantiasique* elephantiasis victim utopique* utopian
encoprétique* night fecal incontinent
énurétique* enuretic, incontinent caustique* ** caustic person
épileptique* epileptic éclectique* eclectic person
glycosurique* person with glycosuria égocentrique* egocentric
hébéphrénique* hebephrenic person excentrique* ** eccentric
hémogénique* bleeder fanatique* fanatic
hydropique* hydropic person flegmatique* phlegmatic person
hystérique* hysterical person frénétique* frenetic person
ictérique icteric person impudique* lewd person
leucémique* person with leukemia lunatique* lunatic
lithiasique* person with lithiasis mélancolique* melancholy person
lymphatique* lymph-diseased person sadique* sadist
neurasthénique* neurasthenic person
paralytique* paralytic romantique* romantic school writer
hémiplégique* hemiplegic person satirique* satirist
paraplégique* paraplegic
paratyphique* paratyphoid person critique** critic
phtisique* phthisic person domestique* domestic, servant
pithiatique* a nervous person scientifique* scientist
pleurétique* person with pleurisy
poliomyélitique* person with polio infirme* invalid, cripple
polyurique* person with polyuria
Burns--19 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

abolitionniste* abolitionist monarchiste* monarchist

absolutiste* absolutist nationaliste* nationalist
abstentionniste* abstentionist national-socialiste* Nazi member
activiste* activist neutraliste* neutralist
anarchiste* anarchist nordiste* U.S.Civil War Unionist
annexionniste* annexionist sudiste* U.S.Civil War Confederate
attentiste* wait-and-see advocate obstructionniste* obstructionist
autonomiste autonomist orléaniste* Orleanist
bolcheviste*, bolchevique* Bolshevist pacifiste* pacifist
maximaliste Maximalist, Bolshevist belliciste* war advocate
bonapartiste* Bonapartist pangermaniste* pan-Germanist
boulangiste* partisan of Boulanger panslaviste* pan-Slavist
carliste* Carlist particulariste* particularist
centriste* centrist in politics phalangiste phalangist
chartiste chartist progressiste* progressist
collaborationniste* collaborationist prohibitionniste* prohibitionist
colonialiste* colonialist protectionniste* protectionist
anticolonialiste* anticolonialist antiprotectionniste* antiprotectionist
communiste* communist réformiste* reformer
anticommuniste* anticommunist révisionniste* revisionist
congressiste member of a congress royaliste* royalist
déviationniste* deviationist ultra-royaliste* ultra-royalist
dirigiste* state control partisan scissionniste* divisionist
étatiste* partisan of state socialism sécessionniste* secessionist
expansionniste* expansionist ségrégationiste* segregationist
fasciste* fascist antiségrégationniste* antisegregationist
antifasciste* antifascist séparatiste* separatist
fédéraliste* federalist sioniste* Zionist
fractionniste* fractious politician socialiste* socialist
franquiste* Franco partisan terroriste* terrorist
gauchiste* leftist contre-terroriste* counter-terrorist
gaulliste* Gaullist travailliste* British Labor member
impérialiste* imperialist trotskiste* Trotskyite
internationaliste* internationalist tsariste* tsarist
interventionniste* interventionist unioniste* unionist
non-interventionniste* non-interventionist utopiste* utopist
irrédentiste irredentist
isolationniste* isolationist absentéiste* practicing absentee
légitimiste* legitimist alarmiste* alarmist
loyaliste* loyalist altruiste* altruist
militariste* militarist antagoniste* antagonist
antimilitariste* antimilitarist aprioriste* person reasoning a priori
modérantiste* moderate arriviste arriviste
Burns--20 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

anticonformiste* anticonformist objectiviste* objectivist

non-conformiste* nonconformist obscurantiste* obscurantist
conformiste* conformist opportuniste* opportunist
défaitiste* defeatist, pessimist optimiste* optimist
déterministe* determinist pessimiste* pessimist
égoiste* egoist phénoméniste phenomenist
égotiste* egotist positiviste* positivist
empiriste empiricist néo-positiviste* neo-positivist
épiphénoméniste* epiphenomenalist pragmatiste* pragmatist
eugéniste eugenist probabiliste* probabilist
évolutionniste* evolutionist puriste* purist
exhibitionniste exhibitionist raciste* racist
existentialiste* existentialist rationaliste* rationalist
extrémiste* extremist, diehard réaliste* realist
fataliste* fatalist relativiste* relativist
féministe* feminist rigoriste* rigorist
fétichiste* fetishist scientiste* partisan of scientism
finaliste* finalist sensualiste* sensualist
fixiste* person denying evolution simpliste* simplistic person
formaliste* formalist sociologiste* sociologism partisan
fouriériste* Fourierist spiritualiste* spiritualist
futuriste* futurist structuraliste* structuralist
gestaltiste* gestaltist subjectiviste* subjectivist
hébertiste* partisan of Hebert system substantialiste* substantialist
hédoniste* hedonist traditionaliste* traditionalist
idéaliste* idealist transformiste* transformist
immatérialiste* immaterialist utilitariste* utilitarian
immoraliste* immoralist vériste* verist, Italian realist
individualiste* individualist volontariste* voluntarist
innéiste* innate philosophy partisan
intellectualiste* intellectualist accordéoniste accordionist
irrationaliste* irrationalist altiste performer with tenor violin
légaliste legalist choriste chorister, choir singer
masochiste* masochist cithariste* zitherist
matérialiste* materialist clarinettiste clarinettist
mécaniste* mechanist claveciniste clavecin player
moniste* monist, partisan of Spinoza concertiste performer at a concert
mutationniste* mutation theorist contrapuntiste contrapuntist
nativiste* nativist contrebassiste bass viola player
naturiste* corniste* cornist, horn player
nihiliste* nihilist dodécaphoniste* dodecaphonist
nominaliste* nominalist duettiste person who sings in a duet
nudiste* nudist fantaisiste* fantasist
Burns--21 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

flûtiste flutist panthéiste* pantheist

guitariste guitarist papiste papist
harmoniciste harmonica player piétiste* pietist
harmoniste harmonist quiétiste* quietist
harpiste harpist rabbiniste rabbinist
hautboïste hautboyist, oboe player ritualiste* ritualist
instrumentiste instrumentalist salutiste* Salvatian Army member
mandoliniste mandolinist talmudiste Talmudist
organiste organist taoïste* Taoist
orphéoniste member of an orpheon théiste* theist
pianiste pianist monothéiste* monotheist
soliste* soloist polythéiste* polytheist
symphoniste symphonist thomiste* Thomist
trompettiste trumpeter ubiquiste* ubiquist
violiste viola player universaliste* universalist
violoncelliste cellist
violoniste violinist affichiste billboard artist
aquafortiste aquafortist
adventiste* Seventh Day Adventist aquarelliste aquarellist
anabaptiste* Anabaptist aquatintiste aquatintist
animiste* animist céramiste* ceramist
anthropomorphiste* anthropomorphist coloriste colorist
baptiste Baptist expressionniste* expressionist
bouddhiste* Buddhist fresquiste painter of frescos
cabaliste cabalist fusiniste, fusainiste fusain drawer
catéchiste catechist impressionniste* impressionist
congréganiste* congregant jardiniste landscape gardener
controversiste disputant logiste competing art student
déiste* deist luministe* luminist
dualiste* dualist maniériste* mannerist
fidéiste* fideist maquettiste miniature model maker
gomariste* Gomarist, a Calvinist miniaturiste* miniaturist
intégriste* conservative Catholic mosaïste* mosaicist
janséniste* Jansenist pastelliste pastellist
jéciste* member of youth J.E.C. paysagiste* landscape painter
lamaïste Lamaist, a Buddhist pointilliste* pointillist
laxiste* laxist portraitiste portraitist
méthodiste Methodist ruiniste painter of ruins
moderniste* modernist surréaliste* surrealist
moliniste* partisan of Molina tachiste* tachist
molinosiste* partisan of Molinos vignettiste vignetter
montaniste* Montanist visagiste makeup artist
oecuméniste* ecumenist
Burns--22 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

affouagiste entitled forester embryologiste embryologist

alpiniste alpinist, mountain climber entomologiste entomologist
ascensionniste climber, balloonist erpétologiste herpetologist
automobiliste motorist généraliste general practitioner
bandagiste tire maker or seller génétiste geneticist
canoéiste canoeist hématologiste hematologist
cycliste* cyclist herboriste herborist, herbalist
cyclomotoriste auto-cyclist hygiéniste hygienist
garagiste garage owner ichtyologiste ichthyologist
garagiste-motoriste garage mechanic laryngologiste laryngologist
motocycliste motorcyclist naturaliste* naturalist
pompiste gas pump attendant neurologiste neurologist
scootériste motor scooter driver oculiste* oculist
excursionniste excursionist ophtalmologiste ophthalmologist
touriste* tourist ornithologiste ornithologist
orthopédiste* orthopedist
africaniste Africanist oto-rhino-laryngologiste
américaniste* Americanist otorhinolaryngologist
angliciste Anglicist pathologiste* pathologist
byzantiniste Byzantinist physiologiste* physiologist
espérantiste* partisan of Esperanto secouriste first-aider
franciste French language specialist spécialiste* specialist
germaniste Germanist stomatologiste stomatologist
hébraïste* Hebraist zoologiste zoologist
helléniste Hellenist
indianiste Indianist antipodiste acrobat spinning on back
latiniste Latinist contorsionniste contortionist
linguiste linguist équilibriste equilibrist, balancer
médiéviste medievalist parachutiste* parachutist
orientaliste* Orientalist perchiste pole vaulter
romaniste** Romance language expert trapéziste trapezist, trapeze artist
sanskritiste Sanskritist
slaviste Slavist apologiste apologist
comparatiste comparatist
anatomiste anatomist courriériste columnist
anesthésiste anesthetist dialoguiste dialogist
anthropologiste anthropologist documentariste documentary maker
bactériologiste bacteriologist éditorialiste editorialist
biologiste biologist épigrammatiste epigrammatist
botaniste botanist feuilletoniste serial writer
chimiste chemist humoriste* humorist
dentiste dentist ironiste ironist, satirist
dermatologiste dermatologist journaliste journalist
Burns--23 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

lakiste* English lake poet modéliste* model maker, designer

libelliste libeler, lampoonist oculariste artificial eye maker
moliériste expert on Molière ornemaniste* ornament maker
moraliste* moralist tulliste tulle maker
nouvelliste news, short story writer
panégyriste panegyrist, eulogist bimétalliste* bimetallist
parodiste* parodist monométalliste* monometalist
polémiste polemicist, polemist capitaliste* capitalist
populiste* populist collectiviste* collectivist
publiciste publicist corporatiste* corporatist
régionaliste* regionalist échangiste exchanger, trader
scénariste scenarist, scriptwriter coéchangiste* exchange person, trader
styliste stylist, stylistic writer libre-échangiste* free trader
vaudevilliste vaudevillist marxiste* Marxist
vers-libriste* writer of free verse mercantiliste* mercantilist
stakhanoviste* Stakhanovist
archiviste archivist
documentaliste documentalist cégétiste* C.G.T. union member
épigraphiste epigraphist gréviste* striker
étymologiste etymologist jociste* member of youth J.O.C.
folkloriste folklorist mutualiste* mutualist
généalogiste genealogist syndicaliste* trade unionist
héraldiste specialist in heraldry
champignonniste mushroom grower
atomiste* atomic scientist, atomist pépiniériste* nursery man or woman
éclairagiste* electrical engineer pomologiste pomologist, fruit expert
hydrologiste* hydrologist rosiériste rose grower
météorologiste meteorologist
métrologiste metrologist civiliste civil lawyer
minéralogiste mineralogist criminaliste criminal lawyer
paléontologiste* paleontologist criminologiste criminologist
radiologiste radiologist juriste jurist, lawyer
électroradiologiste radiologist
cruciverbiste crossword puzzler
aubergiste innkeeper mots-croisiste crossword puzzler
bouquiniste secondhand-book dealer
droguiste operator of a drug store linotypiste linotype operator
étalagiste window dresser radiotélégraphiste wireless operator
fichiste file card maker radiotéléphoniste wireless operator
fleuriste* florist sans-filiste wireless operator
gagiste* pawner, pledger, bailee standardiste switchboard operator
liquoriste maker or seller of liquor stenciliste stenciler
médailliste* medalist, medal maker sténotypiste stenotypist
Burns--24 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

télégraphiste* telegraphist vélivole* devotee of gliding

téléphoniste telephone operator

algébriste algebrist astronome astronomer

analyste analyst gastronome gastronome, gourmet
apanagiste* appanagist môme (slang) urchin, scamp
artiste* artiste
buraliste* office manager, P.O. clerk autochtone* autochthon
copiste copyist francophone* person who speaks French
curiste person taking thermal cure
fumiste* ** practical joker amblyope* amblyopic person
gemmologiste gemmologist amétrope* ametropic person
illusionniste illusionist emmétrope* normal-sighted person
occultiste* occultist hypermétrope* farsighted person
philatéliste philatelist myope* myopic, nearsighted person
physiognomoniste physiognomist nyctalope* day-blind person
physionomiste* physiognomist
pigiste* piece worker lycanthrope* wolf-man psychotic
propagandiste* propagandist misanthrope* misanthrope
protagoniste protagonist philanthrope philanthropist
radiesthésiste dowser, water-diviner théophilanthrope theophilanthropist
récidiviste* recidivist
symboliste* symbolist budgétivore* (slang) welfare recipient
turfiste person who frequents races choéphore Greek person in ceremony
unijambiste* one-legged person
grand-chose much of a person or thing
pingre* (slang) miser, skinflint virtuose virtuoso

monolingue* monolinguist Cypriote* Cypriot, Cypriote

bilingue* bilinguist Épirote* citizen of Epire region
trilingue* trilinguist Massaliote* ancient-Marseille Greek

morisque* Morisk, Morisco compatriote* compatriot

patriote* patriot
hydrophobe* person who hates water
emphytéote long-term tenant
anglophobe* anglophobe
francophobe* francophobe hétérodoxe* heterodox person
germanophobe* germanophobe orthodoxe* orthodox person
xénophobe* xenophobe
noble* noble
créole* ** Creole
mariole*, mariolle* (slang) show-off bancroche* bowlegged person
Burns--25 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

boche* (pejorative slang) German pédologue pedologist, soil expert

gavroche* brave, sweet Paris urchin spéléologue speleologist
mioche young child volcanologue volcanologist

médiocre* mediocre person dialectologue dialectologist

lexicologue lexicologist
docte* erudite person philologue philologist
phonologue phonologist
archéologue archeologist
ethnologue ethnologist mycologue specialist in mushrooms
graphologue* graphologist pomologue pomologist, fruit expert
idéologue ideologue
musicologue musical historian astrologue astrologer
mythologue mythologist démagogue* demagogue
papyrologue papyrologist homologue* homologous person
sociologue sociologist pédagogue pedagogue

assyriologue ancient Syria expert j'ordonne (slang) imperious person

égyptologue Egyptologist
sinologue sinologist philosophe philosopher
théosophe theosophist
cardiologue cardiologist
gastro-entérologue gastroenterologist malpropre* improper person
gynécologue gynecologist
neurologue neurologist copte* ** Coptic
ornithologue ornithologist
phénoménologue phenomenologist ventriloque* ventriloquist
phtisiologue phthisiologist
pneumologue pneumologist Corse* ** Corsican
proctologue proctologist
psychologue* psychologist gosse (slang) youth
neuropsychologue neuropsychologist
radiologue radiologist polyglotte* polyglot
rhumatologue rheumatologist
sexologue sexologist borgne* one-eyed person
toxicologue toxicologist
urologue urologist fourbe* cheat, swindler, impostor
zoologue zoologist
arsouille* (slang) blackguard, cad
climatologue climatologist
géologue geologist transfuge deserter, cross-over
glaciologue glaciologist
hydrologue* hydrologist funambule tightrope walker
Burns--26 Optional List (sex-determined nouns)

noctambule* night prowler, reveler sans-logis homeless person

somnambule* somnambulist
ci-devant ci-devant person
enfant child, descendant
camaldule Camaldule, a religious
émule emulator, competitor, rival contumax contumacious person
incrédule* unbeliever
gaga* (slang) spoiled person
manucure manicurist judoka judoist, person using judo
pédicure chiropodist, podiatrist
sang-mêlé half-caste person
parjure* ** perjurer yankee*(s) Yankees
yéyé* (slang) brat of 1964 era
adulte* adult, grown-up
Bengali* Bengali, person from Bengal
Kurde** Kurd
nazi* Nazi
Russe* ** Russian sans-abri homeless person
sans-souci* (slang) happy-go-lucky person
Etrusque* ** Etruscan sefaraddi*, sefardi* Iberian Jew

rustre* boor, churl, clown, lout dactylo typist

sténodactylo stenotypist
snob* snob dingo* ** (slang) fool, crackpot

Ouzbek*, Uzbek* Ouzbekistan person sans-le-sou (slang) penniless person

zazou (slang) 1942 Parisian brat
cul-de-jatte legless person
brèche-dent* front-toothless person
banban* (slang) cripple brise-fer, brise-tout (slang) clumsy person
souillon (slang) slovenly person meurt-de-faim half-starved person
pète-sec* (slang) snappish person
Afrikaner South African Dutch person pince-sans-rire sly person
pleure-misère hard-luck-story person
malabar* (slang) big, strong person porte-bannière flag-bearer
mudéjar* Spanish Moslem risque-tout daredevil
sans-coeur (slang) heartless person trompe-la-mort (slang) death escapee
Sinn-Feiner Irish Sinn-Fein partisan trouble-fête killjoy, mischief-maker
va-nu-pieds (slang) tramp, beggar
albinos* albino
heimatlos person without a country
minus habens (slang) stupid person
niais foolish person, simpleton
Burns--27

THE FEMININE LIST (Introduction)

At this point then we have two basic rules of gender, a basic method
of procedure, and an optional list whose gender is a forgone conclusion.

Of the 3,147 particular exceptions, 1,023 are feminine. Since they

are exceptions to the masculine rule, they are listed in masculine-rule
order.
Accordingly, the first group of nouns have endings in ge, the second
in le, the third in me, the fourth in re, the fifth in be, the sixth in ze, the
seventh in ke, the eighth in xe, the ninth in consonants, and the tenth in
vowels. The eleventh and last group is composed of those nouns
previously referred to in the masculine statement as "hyphens," and more
accurately at this instance as "verb-hyphenated nouns," those which
contain a verb and its object or modifier and in which this exact correlation
is the key factor in determining the hyphenated noun's gender, rather than
its ending. (In the plural these nouns are either invariable or have an s
added to the object of the verb, never to the verb itself.) In other words,
these eleven groups are arranged sequentially in the exact order specified
in the masculine statement: glmr bz kx consonants, vowels, and hyphens.
Otherwise the procedure is the same as that of the optionals.
The very first block on the feminine list, the unrelated -age group,
provides interesting numerical perspective. Although most nouns ending
in age (1224) by far are masculine , these 10 exceptions appear on a list of
exceptions which, in its entirety, only numbers 1023. Missing entirely
from the -me groups which follow are all nouns ending in isme (677); all
such nouns, without exception, are masculine.
Again, on this very same feminine list of 1023, only 82 eur-ending, mainly
abstract nouns appear. The number of this group of exceptional nouns,
although imposing in relation to its fellow exceptions, sharply contrasts
with the 1445 eur-ending nouns which are masculine (mostly men or boys
who are or become one thing or another). Finally, the 2 ment-ending
nouns listed on page 42 among the t-ending groups are the only exceptions
Burns--28 The Feminine List (introduction)

to 1135 ment-ending nouns, all of which are masculine. Following the

masculine rule, these four groups of nouns alone exceed in number all
exceptions and all optionals put together.
On the other hand, we must never assume that the presence of a
group of nouns having the same ending, especially a large group, in a
feminine list of exceptions presupposes a dearth of masculine nouns with
such endings, or vice versa.
As evidence, let us consider the aire-ending nouns. Although there
are many to be found in this feminine list, we will remember that there
were many more in the optional list. Furthermore, more nouns ending in
aire adhere to basic rule number one and can be found on the masculine
rule list than on the other two lists combined. We must not jump to
conclusions. In reviewing the aire-ending nouns in the feminine list, it
would be more appropriate to conclude that flowering and non-flowering
plants ending in aire are of the feminine gender. That specific conclusion
would be correct.
Two additional rules of context will be adhered to in both phonetic
lists of exceptions, the masculine list as well as the feminine list. So-called
"people nouns" will appear first, as a block, in any group of nouns, this to
provide reliable headlines. Secondly, when flora and fauna exist in the
same group, they will appear as one block, flora followed directly by fauna
in a somewhat ascending hierarchical order, this to provide reliable
continuity.
Where brevity is a virtue, English definitions have been kept brief,
and where one English noun translates exactly, its exact synonym has been
deemed extraneous. It was decided from the beginning to allow one
column line for each French noun and its English definition if at all
possible. On a few occasions, more space would have been welcomed so
that a definition applicable to a specific discipline could have been added.
On more frequent occasions, however, very broad general definitions have
actually been added to otherwise adequate but esoteric, often cognate,
definitions so that some understanding would be immediate for all.
So now we come to the feminine list itself, a permanent source of
reference. We cannot memorize all of these nouns, nor do we need
Burns--29 The Feminine List (introduction)

to; with the aid of the block method, however, we will eliminate
duplication of effort and recall a great many.
Do-it-yourself style, we can select out those nouns or related blocks
of nouns we wish to commit to memory, checking them off or coloring
them through. A ready-made all-purpose abridged version is provided in
the appendix on pages 317 through 322 with the aid of which we can
abridge, as suggested, without sacrificing the possibility of incidental
learning in this complete unabridged version. Alternatively, we can use the
abridged version, as is, as a list of imperatives.
Burns--30

FEMININE LIST (Exceptions to the Masculine Rule)

ambage(s) ambages, equivocation

cage cage allège window sill
hypallage hypallage, a grammar term drège fishing net, dragnet
image image Norvège Norway
nage swimming, rowing
page** page of a book, leaf, period neige snow
passerage a plant
plage beach rotroenge, rotrouenge poetry
rage rage, rabies, fury, frenzy
saxifrage saxifrage, a plant vierge*, Vierge virgin, Virgo

orange** orange (fruit) alberge clingstone peach or apricot

mésange titmouse asperge asparagus

allfange Moorish scimitar berge steep bank

boulange bakery business autoberge river or canal bank road
fange mire
fontange fontange, fancy headdress auberge inn, tavern, auberge
frange fringe, mane flamberge sword of Middle Ages
grange grange, storage barn héberge dividing line of party wall
louange praise serge serge
phalange phalange, finger bone verge rod, shaft, penis, verge
vendange vintage, harvest, profit
vidange draining, nightsoil demi-tige pruned-down fruit tree
tige trunk, stem, rod, tige
charge load, cost, burden, charge
décharge discharge, unloading pige measure, pay by the piece
recharge recharge, reloading rémige quill, remige, a bird feather
surcharge overloading, surcharge strige ghoul
volige batten
barge barge, a haystack, a bird voltige gymnastics
litharge litharge, lead oxide
marge margin, edge, latitude sphinge female sphinx
targe targe, buckle of Middle Ages
méninge meninge
auge trough
bauge lair épitoge honorary shoulder band
jauge gauge, dipstick toge toga, judge's robe
sauge sage
Burns--31 Feminine List (exceptions to the masculine rule)

horloge clock débâcle breaking up, crash, debacle

loge lodge, lodging, theatre box
bernacle barnacle, wild goose
allonge table leaf, rider, allonge macle twin crystal, macle
rallonge lengthener, secret money
rafle grape stalk, raid, clean sweep
longe lunge, loin of veal
surlonge sirloin of beef aile wing, brim, blade, fender
aile-de-pigeon leg-beating leap
oronge orange agaric mushroom
éponge sponge aigle** female eagle, eagle flag

plate-longe difficult-horse strap sangle strap, band, belt

prolonge prolonge, a strong rope
hépatocèle hepatocele, liver hernia
axonge lard hydrocèle hydrocele, scrotum fluid
plonge dishes to be washed varicocèle varicocele

arrière-gorge back of the throat prêle, prèle horsetail grass

gorge breast, throat, gorge chrysomèle chrysomelid, a beetle
sous-gorge throat-band of a bridle cicindèle carnivorous tiger beetle
philomèle philomel, nightingale
forge forge
orge** barley burèle heraldic narrow strip
cautèle sly prudence, cunning, guile
gouge hollow chisel, gouge clientèle clientele, patronage
fêle glass blower's hollow iron bar
courge gourd grêle hail, hailstorm
parallèle* ** parallel line
luge luge, single toboggan poêle** frying pan
stèle stele, monument, tombstone
épurge spurge vièle viola-like ancient instrument
purge purge
hièble, yèble dwarf-elder
chantefable medieval song-fable
fable tale, talk, fable, fib, story nèfle medlar, an edible fruit

étable stable, stall, shed règle rule, ruler, menses, pattern

indéfrisable* permanent wave
table table perle pearl, gem, bead
variable* ** variable
atrabile black bile
bâcle wood or iron bar door fastener bile bile
Burns--32 Feminine List (exceptions to the masculine rule)

file file (line of people or things) andrinople cheap cotton, usually red
tranchefile headband of a book
mandorle mandorla, a religious panel
gypsophile gypsophila flower, pink
ammophile ammophila, a sand wasp trouble**, truble hoop fishing net
drosophile drosophila, vinegar fly
boucle buckle, ring, curl, winding
île island escarboucle garnet
presqu'île peninsula
maroufle** a glue
photopile electric battery mistoufle poverty
pile pile, bridge pier, coin "tails" moufle** mitten, tackle for lifting
pantoufle slipper
argile argil, clay
automobile* automobile accouple coupling for dogs
cotyle cotyle, bone cavity couple** couple of things, link
empile angler's line
huile oil, oil painting ensouple cylinder in a loom
locomobile a steam engine
sébile wooden begging bowl chasuble chasuble, a priest's robe
tuile tile, bad luck
vigile** vigil bugle** bugle, ajuga, a plant

Bible, bible Bible, bible jungle jungle

cible target, goal, butt
dame lady, dame, game queen
besicle(s) old-fashioned spectacles madame married woman, madame
manicle leather glove Notre-Dame Our Lady, Blessed Virgin
sanicle a plant
belle-dame bella donna, butterfly
gifle slap in the face, box on ear dame d'onze heures star of Bethlehem
mornifle backhanded slap, taunt, dig igname yam
jusquiame a plant
épingle pin phanérogame(s)* phanerogams, plants
résingle goldsmith's tool
tringle curtain or tire rod, tringle âme soul
brame** sheet-iron ingot
grand-voile mast sail came cam
voile** sail, sailboat, sailboating entame first cut of bread or meat
lame thin blade, wave, lame, slat
étoile star rame ream, row of trains, oar
toile toile, linen, cotton, canvas réclame** publicity, advertisement
Burns--33 Feminine List (exceptions to the masculine rule)

squame squama, scale mi-carème mid-Lent

trame tram, woof, play plot, course
seime cleft in horse's hoof
palme** palm tree, palm leaf
femme wife, woman once married
anagramme anagram sage-femme midwife
épigramme epigram
flemme sloth, inertia
flamme flame, passion, pennant gemme gem, leaf bud, pine resin
oriflamme oriflamme, flame banner
angiosperme(s) angiosperms, plants
gamme gamut, scale, range gymnosperme(s) gymnosperms, plants

alarme alarm berme berm, berme

arme arm of the service, arms (pl.) risberme shielded seaside stone area
guisarme guisarme, a medieval weapon
ferme farm, farmhouse, farming
larme tear, drop, larme isotherme* isotherm, meteorology term
larme-de-Job Job's tear plant
légitime* (slang) wife
agripaume a plant victime victim
baume** a grotto in Provence
paume palm of the hand, tennis escrime fencing
septime fencing line of engagement
drachme drachme, dram
estime esteem, respect, estimate
neuvième** ninth elementary grade mésestime misesteem, poor opinion
huitième** eighth elementary grade
septième** top elementary grade prime canonical first hour (only)
sixième** sixth high school grade prime premium, prize, bonus
cinquième** fifth high school grade surprime extra premium for more risk
quatrième** fourth high school grade
troisième** third high school grade Quadragésime Quadragesima Sunday
Quinquagésime Quinquagesima Sunday
antépénultième* antepenult, a syllable Sexagésime Sexagesima Sunday
pénultième* penult, a syllable Septuagésime Septuagesima Sunday

quadrirème quadrireme, an oared ship cime mountain peak, tree top, summit
trirème trireme, an oared war vessel cyme cyme of a flower
dîme tithe
bohème* ** carefree set, Bohemia frime pretense, malarkey, futility
brème a freshwater fish lime lime (fruit), file, conch shell
crème cream, creme maxime maxim