venereal

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   relating to sexual intercourse, sexual desire, or the genitals

   The older medical text used venereal to describe sexual appetite.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to a disease transmitted primarily through sexual contact

   The clinic specialized in the diagnosis of venereal diseases.

From Middle English venereal and Latin venereus, 'of sexual love,' from Venus, the Roman goddess of love. The disease sense developed from the association with sexual contact.

Topics