Also 4–5 -pyscens, -ence, 6 -pysence, -piscens. [ad. L. concupiscentia (in Vulgate, Tertullian), f. concupisc-ĕre, inceptive of concup-ĕre to be very desirous of, long much for, f. con- intensive + cupĕre to long for, desire: see -ENCE. Also in F. from 14th c.]
1. Eager or vehement desire; in Theol. use (transl. ἐπιθυμία of N.T.) the coveting of ‘carnal things,’ desire for the ‘things of the world.’
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr., 14. A saule þat haues … ouercomene and dystroyede concupyscens and passiouns.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xvi. 58 (Add. MS.). Auctor of concupiscence of eyen is the world; and auctor of concupiscence of the flessh art thou thi self, that livest delicatly, and norisshest thi flessh.
1526. Tindale, James i. 14. But euery man is tempted, drawne awaye, and entysed of his awne concupiscence.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 315. A Litigious Man goes to Law … to spend his Money, and satisfy his Concupiscence of Wrangling.
a. 1711. Ken, Divine Love, Wks. (1838), 217. Concupiscence, or the love of one creature or other, in competition with, or opposition to the love of God.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 304. Such is the fire of concupiscence, raging within, that … no houses or fields content these.
b. with pl.
1382. Wyclif, Gal. v. 24. Vices and concupiscencis, or coueitisis.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 149 b. It shall … subdue all inordynate concupiscences.
a. 1791. W. Mason, Spir. Treas., in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. xix. 13. Evil concupiscences which dwell in their sinful natures.
2. esp. Libidinous desire, sexual appetite, lust.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 278. The fuyr of fleisschly concupiscence.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 267. The king … Incombred of his lustes blinde … Deceived of concupiscence.
1485. Caxton, St. Wenefr., 9. The concupyscence of hym that persecuted her.
1631. T. May, trans. Barclay’s Mirr. Mindes (1633), 215. For all those lusts, for which they are infamous, there is lesse fault in them then in their filthy prophet Mahomet, who by his Law forbids not such concupiscences too much inbred in mortal men, though restrained by the lawes of God and modesty.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1078. And in our Faces evident the signes Of foul concupiscence.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), II. liv. 136. This scene … did not at all contribute to the cooling of his concupiscence.
a. 1781. Bp. Challoner, Cath. Instruct. Sacram. (1837), 21. Q. What are the ends for which matrimony is instituted? A. For a remedy against concupiscence.
