Phren. [f. prec. + -NESS.] Propensity to love, or sexual passions.
1815. Spurzheim, Physiogn. Syst., Pref. 9. In the nomenclature of the propensities … I have therefore adopted amativeness, like destructiveness.
1828. Combe, Constit. Man, ii. § 5. Amativeness is a feeling obviously necessary to the continuance of the species.
1869. Swinburne, Ess. & Stud. (1875), 210. The Satyrs … retain their natural amativeness.
