lascivious
- inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd: a lascivious, girl-chasing old man.
- arousing sexual desire: lascivious photographs.
- indicating sexual interest or expressive of lust or lewdness: a lascivious gesture.
Origin of lascivious
Related Words
salaciouspornographicvulgarindecentprurientlewdX-ratedbawdybluebodilycarnalcoarsecrudeevil-mindedfastfleshlygrosshard-corehotimmoralExamples from the Web for lascivious
Contemporary Examples
The lascivious sex predator is out; the deep-pocketed caped crusader is most definitely in.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen HawkingM.L. Nestel
January 8, 2015
A married politician is sent a series of lascivious photographs by an attractive female admirer.
U.K. Tabloid Absurdly Claims ‘Public Interest’ Served in Politician’s Sex StingLizzie Crocker
September 30, 2014
Hard to stomach, but their lascivious glances told that tale.
A Nation of Onlookers: India’s Violence Against Women and America’s GunsDilip D’Souza
December 22, 2012
From Ryan Lochte to Tom Daley, the Web is awash with lascivious pictures of the men of the London Games.
That must be why he seems to have kept this lascivious picture out of public view.
Historical Examples
He might degrade Marcolina by mockery and lascivious phrases, full of innuendo.
Casanova's HomecomingArthur Schnitzler
But you sha'n't say nor do your lascivious tricks before me, I warrant you.
The Politician Out-WittedSamuel Low
Had not the stage lowered music to the position of a lascivious handmaiden?
MelomaniacsJames Huneker
Admit that it is not lascivious; who will pretend that it is essentially graceful?
Glances at EuropeHorace Greeley
They were celebrated by courtesans with processions, lascivious pantomimes, etc.
FolkwaysWilliam Graham Sumner
lascivious
- lustful; lecherous
- exciting sexual desire
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for lascivious
adj.
mid-15c., from Middle French lascivieux or directly from Late Latin lasciviosus (used in a scolding sense by Isidore and other early Church writers), from Latin lascivia "lewdness, playfulness, frolicsomeness, jolity," from lascivus "lewd, playful, frolicsome, wanton," from PIE *las-ko-, from *las- "to be eager, wanton, or unruly" (cf. Sanskrit -lasati "yearns," lasati "plays, frolics," Hittite ilaliya- "to desire, covet," Greek laste "harlot," Old Church Slavonic laska "flattery," Slovak laska "love," Old Irish lainn "greedy," Gothic lustus, Old English lust "lust"). Related: Lasciviously; lasciviousness. In 17c. also with a verbal form, lasciviate.