homosocial

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree English homo- Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *sokʷéh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ṓy Proto-Indo-European *sokʷh₂ṓy Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Indo-European *sokʷyós Proto-Italic *sokjos Latin sokios Latin socius Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin sociālisbor. Middle French socialbor. English social English homosocial From homo- + social.

1. Pertaining to homosociality, to social interaction with the same sex.

   “In practice, however, the line between heterosocial and heterosexual relationships is rarely seen as rigid and impenetrable. Instead, male-female friendships are often seen — by others if not by the participants — as having sexual and romantic potential. In contrast, much social effort goes into maintaining the line between homosocial and homosexual relationships […]”

   “Even at its most intense, though, such ‘homosocial’ friendship, both in fiction and in reality, was meant to be distinguished from homosexual acts and tendencies.”