a. Also 5 lassivyous, 6 lacivious. [ad. late L. lascīviōs-us (Isidore), f. L. lascīvi-a (n. of quality f. lascīvus sportive, in bad sense lustful, licentious): see -OUS.]
1. Inclined to lust, lewd, wanton.
c. 1425. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 686. Lastyuyous [read lascyuyous] lurdeyns, & pykers of males.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 402. Ye lassiuyous and wanton disposicions of the sayd Pyers of Gaueston.
1555. Eden, Decades, 141. He chaunced to lyue in those lasciuious and wanton dayes.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 88. The Gotebucke is verie wanton or lasciuious.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, IV. iii. 248. I knew the young Count to be a dangerous and lasciuious boy.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 544. One picture there is of his doing, wherein he would seeme to depaint Lascivious [quoted in mod. Dicts. as ‘lascious’] wantonnesse.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1014. Hee on Eve Began to cast lascivious Eyes.
1781. Cowper, Anti-Thelyphthora, 199. The Fauns and Satyrs, a lascivious race, Shrieked at the sight.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, III. 767. Thin dangling locks, and flat lascivious mouth.
Comb. 1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie, D iiij. He … is wholy to bee reputed a laciuious disposed personne.
b. Inciting to lust or wantonness. † Also in milder sense, voluptuous, luxurious. Obs.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. ix. [x.] (Arb.), 97. Carols and rounds and such light or lasciuious Poemes.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. i. 13. He capers nimbly in a ladies Chamber, To the lasciuious pleasing of a Lute.
1602. T. Fitzherbert, Apol., 36 b. How many are there … that … make no scruple to keep lasciuious pictures to prouoke themselues to lust?
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. II. (1651), 240. By Philters and such kinde of lascivious meats.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 155. Their garments are something lascivious, for being cut and open their skin is seen.
1671. L. Addison, W. Barbary, 150. That they should have Chaires there to sit in with as much lascivious ease, as at home.
1780. Cowper, Table-T., 462. To the lascivious pipe and wanton song, That charm down fear, they frolic it along.
1838. Lytton, Leila, I. iv. Not thine the lascivious arts of the Moorish maidens.
¶ 2. Used for: Rank, luxuriant.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 243. Forded several Plashes where flourished lascivious Shrubs.
