venereal

venereal
\ \ [15] Latin venus meant ‘love, charm’ (it came ultimately from the same Indo- European base as produced English wish and winsome and Sanskrit vānchāwish’). It was not that common as a generic term, its most familiar role being as the name of the Roman goddess of love. From it was derived venereusof sexual love or sexual intercourse’, which English borrowed and adapted as venereal. The term venereal disease dates from the mid 17th century. Other contributions made by Latin venus to English include venerable [15] and venerate [17] (from Latin venerārīrevere’, a derivative of venus), venial [13], and possibly venom.
\ \ Cf.VENERATE, VENIAL, VENUS, WINSOME, WISH

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Venereal — Ve*ne re*al, a. [L. venereus, venerius, fr. Venus, Veneris, Venus, the goddess of love. See {Venerate}.] 1. Of or pertaining to venery, or sexual love; relating to sexual intercourse. [1913 Webster] Into the snare I fell Of fair, fallacious looks …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • venereal — [və nir′ē əl] adj. [ME venerealle < L venereus < venus, love: see VENUS] 1. a) having to do with sexual love or intercourse b) serving to arouse sexual desire; aphrodisiac 2. a) transmitted only or chiefly by sexual intercourse with an… …   English World dictionary

  • Venereal — Ve*ne re*al, n. (Med.) The venereal disease; syphilis. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • venereal — ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to venereal disease. 2) formal relating to sexual desire or sexual intercourse. ORIGIN from Latin venereus, from venus sexual love …   English terms dictionary

  • venereal — early 15c., of or pertaining to sexual desire or intercourse, from L. venereus, from venus (gen. veneris) sexual love, sexual desire (see VENUS (Cf. Venus)). Used of sexually transmitted diseases from 1650s …   Etymology dictionary

  • Venereal — Having to do with sexual contact. The word venereal comes from Venus, the Roman goddess of love. A venereal disease (a morbus venereus) is contracted and transmitted by sexual contact. * * * Relating to or resulting from sexual intercourse. [L.… …   Medical dictionary

  • Venereal —    Venus, the Roman goddess of love (identified with the Greek Aphrodite), loaned her name to two words of dissimilar meanings: venerable, with its sense of respect because of old age or associated dignity, and venereal, pertaining to sexual love …   Dictionary of eponyms

  • venereal — adjective Etymology: Middle English venerealle, from Latin venereus, from vener , venus love, sexual desire Date: 15th century 1. of or relating to sexual pleasure or indulgence 2. a. resulting from or contracted during sexual intercourse …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • venereal — /vəˈnɪəriəl/ (say vuh nearreeuhl) adjective 1. (of a disease or infection) transmitted through sexual intercourse or contact: venereal disease. 2. infected with or suffering from venereal disease. 3. Obsolete adapted to the cure of such disease:… …  

  • venereal — /veuh near ee euhl/, adj. 1. arising from, connected with, or transmitted through sexual intercourse, as an infection. 2. pertaining to conditions so arising. 3. infected with or suffering from a sexually transmitted disease: a venereal patient.… …   Universalium

  • venereal — [15] Latin venus meant ‘love, charm’ (it came ultimately from the same Indo European base as produced English wish and winsome and Sanskrit vānchā ‘wish’). It was not that common as a generic term, its most familiar role being as the name of the… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

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