eroticism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   sexual desire, excitement, or the quality of being sexually arousing

   The novel combines restraint with a persistent undercurrent of eroticism.

2. 2
   noun

   the expression or treatment of sexual desire in art, literature, or ideas

   The critic examined eroticism in Renaissance painting.

Formed from erotic + -ism. Erotic comes through Greek erotikos ("of love") from eros ("love, sexual desire"). The suffix -ism marks a condition, quality, or mode of expression.

Topics