US /ˈlɛt͡ʃ.ɚ.əs/ UK /ˈlɛtʃ.ə.ɹəs/
adj Freq #32146

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    given to excessive indulgence in sexual activity

    They had a lecherous gleam in their eye as they stared at the youths.

Thesaurus

Word family
Related forms lickerishletch

Etymology

From Middle English lecherous, licherous, from Old French *lecherous (attested in Old French lecherousement (“lecherously”)), from Old French lecherie, licherie (“gluttony, sensuality, lewdness, lechery”), from Old French lecher, lechier, lekier, lescher (“to lick, live in gluttony or sensuality”), from Old Frankish *lekkōn, *likkōn (“to lick”), from Proto-Germanic *likkōną (“to lick”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵʰ- (“to lick”), equivalent to lecher + -ous. More at lick.

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