Lust: A Dictionary for the Insatiable Read online

  LUST

  A DICTIONARY FOR THE INSATIABLE

  JENNIFER M. WOOD

  An Introduction to

  Lust

  lust

  (luhst)

  NOUN: Uncontrolled sexual desire.

  The heat of lustful passion has singed the page since words first touched the sheets. From Ovid’s multifarious lovers to Shakespeare’s exhibition of desire in “Sonnet 129” to Lawrence’s loss of inhibitions with Lady Chatterley and her lover, the stories of those in the throes of desire have intrigued and excited for ages. These arousing tales have allowed readers to live vicariously through the steamy trysts, naughty thoughts, and lecherous actions. The power of sexual temptation can tap into the physical desires innate in us all. While lust is defined best by that look in a lover’s eye, this attractive dictionary does its best to capture the spirit of the most carnal sin.

  A

  ache

  (ayk)

  VERB: To long for; to feel pain.

  admirer

  (ad-MYUHR-er)

  NOUN: One who has particular regard for someone or something.

  Adonis

  (uh-DON-is)

  NOUN: From Greek mythology, an Adonis is an attractive young man.

  adulation

  (AJ-uh-lay-shun)

  NOUN: Extreme praise or flattery, particularly that which seems obsequious or unmerited; worship.

  Patrick’s excessive ADULATION indicated to her that he wanted to be more than just friends.

  adult

  (uh-DUHLT)

  ADJECTIVE: Something that pertains to a grown-up; unsuitable for young people.

  adulteress

  (uh-DUHL-ter-is)

  NOUN: A woman who commits adultery.

  adulterine

  (uh-DUHL-tuh-reen)

  ADJECTIVE: Relating to an adulterous relationship.

  adultery

  (uh-DUHL-tuh-ree)

  NOUN: A sexual relationship occurring between a married person and someone who is not his or her spouse.

  affection

  (uh-FEK-shun)

  NOUN: Tenderness; fondness.

  affinity

  (uh-FIN-ih-tee)

  NOUN: A natural fondness of affection.

  afterglow

  (AF-ter-gloh)

  NOUN: A pleasurable feeling that follows a positive experience; afterlight.

  agog

  (uh-GOG)

  ADJECTIVE: Unbridled excitement, eagerness, or desire.

  alluring

  (uh-LOOR-ing)

  ADJECTIVE: Enticing; seductive.

  amativeness

  (AM-uh-tiv-nes)

  NOUN: Feelings of love; amorousness.

  amatory

  (AM-uh-tawr-ee)

  ADJECTIVE: Relating to the physical act of lovemaking.

  amoral

  (ay-MAWR-uhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Having no moral standards, restraints, or principles.

  amorous

  (AM-er-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Pertaining to love, particularly on a sexual level.

  amour

  (uh-MOOR)

  NOUN: A secret love affair.

  anaphrodisiac

  (an-af-ruh-DEE-zee-ak)

  NOUN: A substance that serves to decrease one’s sexual desire; can also be used to describe something that acts as an anaphrodisiac.

  anatomy

  (uh-NAT-uh-mee)

  NOUN: The human body.

  androgynous

  (an-DROJ-uh-nuhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Having both male and female characteristics.

  The main character’s ANDROGYNOUS appearance resulted in more than one unconventionally alluring situation in the novel.

  animalism

  (AN-uh-muh-liz-uhm)

  NOUN: The exhibition of behavior that is typical of animals in that one is guided by physical or carnal pleasures rather than emotional ones.

  anorgasmic

  (an-awr-GAZ-mik)

  ADJECTIVE: Unable to achieve an orgasm during sex.

  aphrodisia

  (af-ruh-DEE-zhuh)

  NOUN: Sexual desire.

  A cold shower was an attempt to cull the overpowering APHRODISIA he was experiencing.

  aphrodisiac

  (af-ruh-DEE-ze-ak)

  NOUN: A substance that arouses sexual desire.

  apolaustic

  (ap-oh-LAWS-tik)

  ADJECTIVE: Devoted to pleasure; hedonistic.

  appealing

  (uh-PEE-ling)

  ADJECTIVE: Attractiveness; a quality or group of qualities that make something desirable to another.

  appetence

  (AP-ih-tuhns)

  NOUN: Desire; appetite.

  Promiscuity is like never reading past the first page. Monogamy is like reading the same book over and over.

  —MASON COOLEY

  appetite

  (AP-ih-tyt)

  NOUN: A desire or craving for something, most often used in reference to food.

  appetitive

  (AP-ih-ty-tiv)

  ADJECTIVE: Relating to appetite or craving.

  ardent

  (AHR-dnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Enthusiastic or passionate; zealous.

  ardor

  (AHR-der)

  NOUN: Intense desire or devotion; passion.

  arouse

  (uh-ROWZ)

  VERB: To awaken; to sexually excite; to anger.

  attachment

  (uh-TACH-muhnt)

  NOUN: Bond between people or things; affection.

  attraction

  (uh-TRAK-shuhn)

  NOUN: A power that draws things together; magnetism.

  B

  bagnio

  (BAN-yoh)

  NOUN: A brothel.

  bait

  (bayt)

  NOUN: Something used as a way to lure or attract somebody.

  base

  (bays)

  ADJECTIVE: Immoral or dishonorable; low-quality.

  bawd

  (bawd)

  NOUN: A prostitute or a madam who hires prostitutes.

  bawdry

  (BAW-dree)

  NOUN: Obscene talk or language.

  bawdy

  (BAW-dee)

  ADJECTIVE: Vulgar or lewd, though often meant in a humorous fashion.

  beckon

  (BEK-uhn)

  VERB: To coax or entice.

  bed

  (bed)

  VERB: As a noun, it is the place one sleeps; as a verb, it means to take a lover to that place.

  In modern times, it is seemingly common practice for those in romantic relationships to BED before they wed.

  bedfellow

  (BED-fel-oh)

  NOUN: One who shares a bed.

  bedmate

  (BED-meyt)

  NOUN: A spouse or lover.

  beguile

  (bih-GYL)

  VERB: Entrance; deceive.

  besotted

  (bih-SOT-ted)

  ADJECTIVE: To become foolish or confused, as a result of one’s attraction to someone; smitten.

  Lust is a mysterious wound in the side of humanity; or rather, at the very source of its life! To confound this lust in man with that desire which unites the sexes is like confusing a tumor with the very organ which it devours, a tumor whose very deformity horribly reproduces the shape.

  —GEORGES BERNANOS

  bewitch

  (bih-WICH)

  VERB: Enchant; cast a spell as in witchcraft.

  billet-doux

  (BIL-ay-DOO)

  NOUN: A love letter.

  bisexual

  (by-SEK-shoo-uhl)


  ADJECTIVE: Being sexually attracted to members of the same sex as well as the opposite sex.

  bliss

  (blis)

  NOUN: A state of complete happiness; ecstasy.

  A romantic tropical getaway was sheer BLISS for the newly married couple.

  bodily

  (BOD-ih-lee)

  ADJECTIVE: Of or relating to the body; corporal.

  bosomy

  (BOOZ-uh-mee)

  ADJECTIVE: A woman endowed with large breasts.

  boudoir

  (BOO-dwahr)

  NOUN: A woman’s bedroom or private sitting area; can be used as an adjective to describe something that might take place in a woman’s bedroom.

  breathless

  (BRETH-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Having difficulty breathing because of physical exertion or a strong feeling, such as excitement; panting.

  brothel

  (BROTH-uhl)

  NOUN: A whore house.

  brutish

  (BROO-tish)

  ADJECTIVE: Carnal; cruel; coarse; uncivilized; animal-like.

  buss

  (buhs)

  NOUN: A kiss.

  Framed and hanging directly above the bed was the famous photograph of an uninhibited soldier firmly planting a BUSS on the lips of an unsuspecting female reveler.

  buxom

  (BUHK-suhm)

  ADJECTIVE: Curvaceous; used to describe a full-figured woman in particular.

  C

  cajole

  (kuh-JOHL)

  VERB: To convince someone to do something through flattery or sheer persistence.

  callipygian

  (kal-uh-PIJ-ee-uhn)

  ADJECTIVE: Having a nicely shaped backside.

  captivate

  (KAP-tuh-vayt)

  VERB: Entrance or enthrall.

  To be a successful actor, one must possess an abundance of charisma and an unequivocal ability to both engage and CAPTIVATE an audience.

  caress

  (kuh-RESS)

  VERB: To touch in an affectionate manner; stroke.

  carnal

  (KAHR-nuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Relating to one’s physical or sexual needs.

  Casanova

  (kaz-uh-NOH-vuh)

  NOUN: A man who seduces women in quick succession; a playboy.

  catch the eye

  (kach thuh aye)

  PHRASE: To stand out or grab the attention of.

  charisma

  (kuh-RIZ-muh)

  NOUN: Likable personality trait that allows one to have a positive affect on others; magnetism or charm.

  charm

  (chahrm)

  VERB: Captivate; using an attractive personality to convince someone to do something.

  cicisbeo

  (chee-chiz-BEY-oh)

  NOUN: The lover of a married woman.

  climactic

  (kly-MAK-tik)

  ADJECTIVE: Leading or pertaining to the culmination of something.

  clinch

  (klinch)

  NOUN: An embrace or strong hold; clutch.

  clitoral

  (KLIT-tohr-rawl)

  ADJECTIVE: Pertaining to the clitoris, a highly sensitive part of a female’s genitalia.

  coarse

  (kawrs)

  ADJECTIVE: Vulgar or uncouth; rough.

  coax

  (kohks)

  VERB: To persuade in a gentle and kind manner; sweet-talk.

  coitus

  (KOH-i-tuhs)

  NOUN: Sexual intercourse.

  come-hither

  (kuhm-HITH-er)

  ADJECTIVE: Seductive; alluring.

  come-on

  (KUHM-on)

  NOUN: A pickup line or other tactic one uses to try and seduce another.

  comely

  (KUHM-lee)

  ADJECTIVE: Attractive or pleasant to look at; the word is most often used to describe a woman.

  compulsion

  (kuhm-PUHL-shuhn)

  NOUN: An impulse; the act of forcing somebody to do something.

  concubine

  (KONG-kyuh-byn)

  NOUN: Traditionally, it refers to the mistress of a married man who is looked after by her lover in the form of financial compensation and a home.

  Rumors swirled around the office that the executive’s secretary was actually his CONCUBINE, and her subsequent silence on the matter spoke volumes about her innocence.

  concupiscent

  (kon-KYOO-pi-suhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Desirous, particularly of a sexual nature; lustful.

  condom

  (KON-duhm)

  NOUN: A tight-fitting sheath, often made of latex, that a man fits over his penis during sex to prevent pregnancy or the spread of an STD.

  conjugal

  (KON-juh-guhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Relating to marriage; connubial.

  Approaching their tenth anniversary, the couple became interested in exploring ways to make CONJUGAL intimacy more exciting and spontaneous.

  consummate

  (KON-suh-mayt)

  VERB: To bring something to the point of completion or finality; to consummate a relationship or marriage, a couple enters into a sexual relationship.

  copulate

  (KOP-yuh-layt)

  VERB: To engage in sexual activity.

  Men decide far more problems by hate, love, lust, rage, sorrow, joy, hope, fear, illusion, or some other inward emotion than by reality, authority, any legal standard, judicial precedent, or statute.

  —MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO

  coquettish

  (koh-KET-tish)

  ADJECTIVE: Flirtatious; the word is almost always used in reference to a woman rather than a man.

  corporeal

  (kawr-PAWR-ee-uhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Pertaining to or part of the body.

  cougar

  (KOO-ger)

  NOUN: Slang term for an older woman who is only interested in younger men.

  coupling

  (KUHP-ling)

  NOUN: To pair two things or people together as a couple; a sexual relationship.

  court

  (kawrt)

  VERB: To expend time and energy trying to win someone over, often for romantic purposes; woo.

  courtesan

  (KAWR-tuh-zuhn)

  NOUN: The mistress or regular prostitute of a wealthy man who is showered in gifts and status.

  covet

  (KUHV-it)

  VERB: To want something that belongs to someone else.

  crave

  (krayv)

  VERB: To have a strong desire for something; yearn.

  Lonely and missing him desperately, the jilted lover felt an undeniable CRAVING to feel his skin against hers.

  crude

  (krood)

  ADJECTIVE: Vulgar or obscene.

  crush

  (kruhsh)

  NOUN: A fleeting romantic infatuation or the object of that infatuation.

  cuddle

  (KUHD-l)

  VERB: To hold someone close in a comfortable, loving way; snuggle.

  curvaceous

  (kur-VAY-shuhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Having a voluptuous shape.

  cynosure

  (SY-nuh-shoor)

  NOUN: A person or thing that attracts a lot of attention or admiration; a directional guide.