lascivious

[ luh-siv-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd:

   a lascivious, girl-chasing old man.

2. arousing sexual desire:

   lascivious photographs.

3. indicating sexual interest or expressive of lust or lewdness:

   a lascivious gesture.

lascivious

/ ləˈsɪvɪəs /

adjective

1. lustful; lecherous
2. exciting sexual desire

Derived Forms

• lasˈciviousness, noun
• lasˈciviously, adverb

Other Words From

• las·civ·i·ous·ly adverb
• las·civ·i·ous·ness noun
• o·ver·las·civ·i·ous adjective
• o·ver·las·civ·i·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of lascivious¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin lascīvi(a) “playfulness, wantonness” ( lascīv(us) “playful, wanton” + -ia noun suffix) + -ous; -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of lascivious¹

C15: from Late Latin lascīviōsus, from Latin lascīvia wantonness, from lascīvus

Example Sentences

His DNA had previously been captured after he was convicted of a lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor in 1993 and forced to register as a sex offender, Hayes said at the time.

From Los Angeles Times

Shortly after her appearance on “The View,” Harris did an interview that lasted more than an hour with Stern, who initially was famous for having lascivious discussions on the airwaves, releasing “Butt Bongo Fiesta,” a $10-million-grossing home video featuring him spanking young women’s bare bottoms in time with music, and many other instances of offensive content, including using the N-word.

From Los Angeles Times

Conklin was arrested Wednesday morning on three felony charges: lewd or lascivious acts on a child younger than 14, continual sexual abuse of multiple victims and discouraging a witness or victim from reporting to police.

From Los Angeles Times

Forty years after his death, Truman Capote continues to draw audiences in for another lascivious story and another dramatic portrayal in ‘Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.’

From Los Angeles Times

They also accused Pisciotta of "lascivious, unhinged conduct", claiming that she "consistently used sexual coercion" to demand money and material items, including designer handbags and a Lamborghini car.

From BBC

Related Words

• indecent
• lewd
• pornographic
• prurient
• salacious
• vulgar