lickerous

English

Etymology

From Middle English likerous, lykerous, likrus, from Anglo-Norman *likerous, *lekerous (“dainty”), apparently an unassibilated variant (compare lekeor, leckeur variants of lecheor, lichieor (“glutton, lecher”)) of Old French *lecherous ("dainty, wanton"; > English lecherous); see lecherous.

Adjective

lickerous (comparative more lickerous, superlative most lickerous)

1. (archaic) lickerish; lecherous; eager; lustful.
   • 1973, Arthur F. Kinney, Rogues, Vagabonds, & Sturdy Beggars:

     [...] and taking leave of each other with a courteous kiss, she pleasantly passed forth on her journey and this untoward lickerous chamberlain repaired homeward.

   • 1992, Tony Hillerman, The Best of the West:

     Next up the valley beyond him lived Phineas Cowan, whose inclinations, in spite of his advanced age, were lustful and lickerous.

   • 1992, C. S. Lewis, Michael Hague, The Pilgrim's Regress:

     The broad-faced, sluttish helot, the slave wife Grubby and warm, who opens unashamed Her thousand wombs unguarded to the lickerous sun.

   • 2011, Laura Kinsale, For My Lady's Heart:

     "My lady, thou art lickerous." He smiled, pressing the heel of his hand against her.

Alternative forms

• liquorous (erroneously simulating liquor)
• lickorous, licorous, likresse

Derived terms

• lickerously
• lickerousness

See also

• lickerish

References

• “lickerous”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.