prurient
[proo r-ee-uh nt]
- having, inclined to have, or characterized by lascivious or lustful thoughts, desires, etc.
- causing lasciviousness or lust.
- having a restless desire or longing.
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Origin of prurient
1630–40; < Latin prūrient- (stem of prūriēns), present participle of prūrīre to itch
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for prurience
Contemporary Examples
All weekend reporters in eastern Ukraine were walking a bizarre tightrope, of prurience, politesse, and ghoulishness.
The California obscenity statute defines “prurience” as “a morbid, degrading, unhealthy interest in sex.”
Historical Examples
It is the curiosity and enthusiasm of youth rather than the prurience of age.
AliensWilliam McFee
There is something unpleasant, painful, degrading in this ingenious mingling of prurience and prudery.
Impressions And CommentsHavelock Ellis
It is refreshing to turn from cynicism and prurience, to gentle and more harmless pleasantry.
History of English Humour, Vol. 2 (of 2)Alfred Guy Kingan L'Estrange
But, free of the prudery of the tabernacle and the prurience of the boulevard, surely the novel has a great future before it.
The prurience and prudery which have poisoned sexual life in the past are alike rendered impossible.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 6 (of 6)Havelock Ellis
prurient
- unusually or morbidly interested in sexual thoughts or practices
- exciting or encouraging lustfulness; erotic
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Word Origin
C17: from Latin prūrīre to itch, to lust after
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for prurience
prurient
adj.
1630s, "itching," later, and now exclusively, "having an itching desire" (1650s), especially "lascivious, lewd," (1746), from Latin prurientem (nominative pruriens), present participle of prurire "to itch; to long for, be wanton," perhaps related to pruna "glowing coals," from PIE root *preus- "to freeze; burn" (see freeze (v.)). Related: Pruriently.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper