licentious

licentious Definition

li·cen·tious (lī sen′s̸həs)

adjective

Etymology: L licentiosus < licentia: see license

licentious Related Forms

li·cen′·tiously adverb li·cen′·tious·ness noun

licentious Synonyms

modif.

licentious Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

behavior: They had not defiled their garments by departing from Christ, by licentious behavior, or by embracing false doctrine.
court: Verdi turned the story into an opera, renamed it Rigoletto and recreated the setting as a licentious court.
conduct: Gaveston was exiled and eventually murdered for his licentious conduct with the king.
doctrine: Poor ignorant things, they little knew that their own vile stuff was the most licentious doctrine under Heaven.

licentious Quotes

My English text is chaste, and all licentious passages are left in the obscurity of a learned language.

—Gibbon, Edward

Marriage is the most licentious of human institutions.

—Shaw, George Bernard

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