libidinous
Americanadjective
-
full of sexual lust; lustful; lewd; lascivious.
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of the libido.
adjective
-
characterized by excessive sexual desire
-
of or relating to the libido
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of libidinous
1400–50; late Middle English lybydynous < Latin libīdinōsus willful, lustful, equivalent to libīdin- (stem of libīdō ) libido + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
When you're libidinous you're driven by your libido, meaning your sex drive. When you describe someone as libidinous, it's usually not a compliment, since the word suggests being out of control with lust and desire. The word libidinous comes from the Latin word libido, meaning "desire," a word the world relearned from Sigmund Freud in the early 1900s. Freud believed that the libido is one of the powerful motivating forces for people and that psychological health is determined by how well a person controls and focuses it.
Vocabulary lists containing libidinous
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Man in the High Castle
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Great Santini
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
