ower)

Besides the masculine and feminine genders, some nouns are called: de
genero comun, epiceno, and ambiguo. The noun is called "de genero comun"
(common gender) when with the same termination it may indicate both a
male and female being by using a different article--

Un--una albacea (an executor, executrix)
Un--una artista (an artist, artiste)
Un--una Belga[211] (a Belgian)
Un--una idiota (an idiot)
Un--una indigena (a native)
Un--una martir (a martyr)
Un--una reo (a culprit)
Un--una culpable (a culprit)
Un--una gimnasta (a gymnast)
Un--una homicida (a murderer, a murderess)
Un--una suicida (one who commits suicide)
Un--una testigo (a witness)

[Footnote 211: And so all nouns of nationality ending in _a_ or _e_.]

The noun is called Epicene when, with the same termination and the same
article, it indicates both male and female--

El aguila (the eagle--male and female)
El buitre (the vulture--male and female)
El avestruz (the ostrich--male and female)
La rata (the rat--male and female)

Distinction would be made by adding "macho" or "hembra."

El aguila macho (the eagle--male)
El avestruz hembra (the ostrich--female)

N.B.--Most of the names of animals belong to this class.

The term "ambiguo" is applied to nouns which are masculine or feminine,
with different meaning, or the gender of which is not well defined--

Analasis (analysis), doubtful gender
El aroma (the aroma) La aroma (the acacia flower)
La _or_ el arte (the art) Los _or_ Las artes
Las bellas artes (the arts, generally _fem_.)
(the fine arts, always _fem_.)
La barba (the beard) El barba (a character in Spanish
plays)
El cabecilla (chieftain or ringleader La cabecilla (the little head)
of rebels)
El calavera (the madcap) La calavera (the skull)
El canal (the canal) La canal (the gutter)
El capital (money) La capital (the town)
El colera (cholera) La colera (wrath)
El cometa (comet) La cometa (the kite, _toy_)
El corte (the cut) La corte (the court)
El cura (the priest) La cura (the cure)
El doblez (the fold) La doblez (duplicity)
El _or_ la dote (dowry), generally Las dotes (good parts, gifts),
_fem_. in the _pl_. always _fem_.
El fantasma (the phantom) La fant