a. Obs. Forms: 3–6 li-, lykerous, (4 lykerus, 5 lykerowse, lykorous, lykkerwys, lekerous, likerose, licrus, likrus), 5–7 licorous, licourous, lycorous(e, (5 lycourous, lycours, lycoruse, 6 lycoures, licoras, likorous, 7 likresse), 6–7 liquorous, lickerous, -orous. [a. AF. *likerous, *lekerous, repr. a northern var. of OF. lecheros LECHEROUS; cf. ONF. liquerie = Central OF. lecherie lechery.
In Eng. use this form of the word has chiefly retained its etymological sense (cf., however, sense 3) while lecherous has been almost confined to a transferred application.]
1. Pleasing or tempting to the palate. Also gen. and fig.: Sweet, pleasant, delightful.
c. 1275. XI Pains Hell, 172, in O. E. Misc., 228. Þo weore þeose þat … hedden of mony metes de-deyn, But hit weore likerous be certeyn.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xxv. 68. Noht may be feled lykerusere, Then thou so suete alumere.
1340. Ayenb., 47. Þe zofte bed cloþes likerouses.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 216. Lekerous metis & drynkis.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 22. No woman shulde ete no lycorous morcelles in the absens … of her husbond.
1549. Latimer, 5th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 139, marg. Lucre is so lickorous that he that once lyckes of it, leketh it.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., I. 19/2. I would not be his ghest, vnlesse I tooke his table to be furnisht with more wholesome and licorous viands.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem., li. (1631), 536. Beeing fed with the licorous and deceitfull sweetnesse of their owne lusts.
1603. H. Crosse, Vertues Commw. (1878), 47. O tis an amiable diuel, a sweete sinne, a lycorous poyson.
2. Of persons, the appetite, etc.: Fond of choice or delicious food; dainty in eating; greedy of good fare. Const. of, after.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 160. And et throf dame lykerouse.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 253. Let not sir Surfet sitten at thi bord;… for he is a lechour and likerous of tonge.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 2. For þis riche man was boastful in speche and likerous in foode.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 53. There be … other that be lykerous of moche mete and drinke.
1530. Palsgr., 317/1. Lycorouse or daynty mouthed, friant.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 54. The Popes caterer casting a licorous glaunce that way.
a. 1632. G. Herbert, Priest to Temple, xxvi. Wks. (Grosart), III. 183. He that … for quality is licorous after dainties, is a glutton.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., V. 182. These Iarres are … interlarded with pitch to preserue the … Wine; yet making the taste thereof vnpleasant to liquorous lips.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, II. xiv. 98. These devils are very lickorous of lardons.
b. gen. and fig. Having a keen relish or desire for something pleasant. Const. of; also, eager to do something.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 391. Yonge clerkes that been lykerous To reden Artes than been curious.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 444. Syn wemen are … so likrus of loue in likyng of yowthe.
1555. W. Watreman, Fardle Facions, II. viii. 178. Whiche … liue a pure and simple life, led with no likerous lustes of other mennes vanitie.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1622), 82. Fit commendation (whereof womankind is so likerous).
1598. E. Guilpin, Skial. (1878), 32. For though it be no cates sharpe sauce it is, To lickerous vanitie.
a. 1632. G. Herbert, Temple, Discharge, i. Busy inquiring heart, what wouldst thou know Why dost thou pry, And turn and leer, and with a licorous eye Look high and low.
3. Lecherous, lustful, wanton.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 161. The likerouse launde that Leccherye hatte.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 58. And sikerly she hadde a likerous eye.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1762. This likerous dampnable errour [adultery].
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. xxv. Men and wymmen coude loue to gyders seuen yeres and no lycours lustes were bitwene them.
1587. Turberv., Trag. T., 15. Whilst thus Nastagio sought his owne decay, By liquorous lust.
1604. Drayton, Owl, 369. There in soft Downe the liquorous Sparrow sat.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Femme, From women light, and lickorous, good fortune still deliuer vs.
4. Comb., as lickerous-mouthed, -toothed adjs.
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1595), 285. Like vnto lickerous mouthed men, who … desire meates with a greedy appetite.
1598. E. Guilpin, Skial. (1878), 9. Once Rinus saw a pretty lasse, And liquorous tooth’d desir’d to tast.
Hence † Lickerously adv.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 114. To meche fode devoury; and to lykerouslyche.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Monk’s T., 567. Oloferne, which fortune ay kiste So likerously.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 12915. Fatte mussellys large and Rounde, I threste hem in fful lykerously.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong., Friander, to feed licorously.
