a. and sb. Also 5 venerealle, 6–7 -all. [f. L. venere-us, f. Vener-, Venus VENUS1. Cf. VENERIAL a.]
1. Of or pertaining to, associated or connected with, sexual desire or intercourse.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), II. 199. The sawle of man in the vse venerealle [L. usu venereo] transmittethe interially formes other similitudes conceyvede exterially.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), ¶ ¶ iv. Here are vile women, whom loue immoderate, And lust Venereall, bringeth to hurt and shame.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, XIV. xv. (1620), 490. Such is hunger and thirst, and the venereall affect, vsually called lust.
1688. Norris, Love, II. § ii. 95. Concerning sensual pleasure, especially that eminent species of it which we call venereal, there is more difficulty.
1727. Swift, Circumcision of E. Curll, Wks. 1755, III. I. 163. Those appetites are now become venal, which should be venereal.
1753. Smollett, Ct. Fathom (1784), 159/1. We have formerly descanted upon that venereal appetite which glowed in the constitution of our adventurer.
1831. J. Davies, Mat. Med., 55. In the cure of … anaphrodisia or want of venereal passion.
† b. (See quot.) Obs.–1
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 999. Divers Authors do speak of four other sorts of Moths, viz. the Venereal, bred in the genitals of men; the Bee Moth, the Cloth Moth, and the Library or Book Moth.
2. Resulting from, or communicated by, sexual intercourse with an infected person; symptomatic of, or associated with, a disease so caused.
1658. Phillips, Venereal disease … is vulgarly called the French Pox.
1660. Milton, Free Commw., Wks. 1851, V. 445. These new Fanatics of … the sweating-tub, inspir’d with nothing holier than the Venereal Pox.
1667. Phil. Trans., II. 564. A lusty robust Souldier dangerously infected with the Venereal Disease.
1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 226, ¶ 5. [He] was particularly famous for the Cure of Venereal Distempers.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 16. He looked upon the Distemper to proceed from a Venereal Cause, therefore exhibited Antivenereals.
1805. Med. Jrnl., XIV. 127. Unless we suppose the pain he has in his joints to arise from latent venereal virus.
1860. Tanner, Pregnancy, v. 228. Another way in which it is highly probable that a woman may receive the venereal taint.
1878. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., I. 174. Venereal warts are very abundant.
b. Of persons: Infected with, suffering from, venereal disease.
1683. Snape, Anat. Horse, III. v. (1686), 112. Till it have mortified and consum’d them (as happens sometimes to venereal Persons).
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxiv. 296. A return of the venereal patients treated in the 38th Regimental Hospital.
c. ellipt. as sb. Venereal disease.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxv. 317. [He] does not consider it [i.e., mercury] a specific for the venereal. Ibid., xxix. 371. His skin became covered with an extensive papular … eruption, which was looked upon by many as true venereal.
† 3. a. Of persons: Under the influence of Venus; inclined to be lascivious; addicted to venery or lust. Obs.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 188. Pronouncing the man … to be saturnine, jovial, martial, solar, venereal, mercurial, lunar?
1665. Brathwait, Comment. Two Tales (1901), 62. In Sense, she was Venereal; in Heart, Martial; Venus gave her the Gift to be lascivious; Mars to be couragious.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., A Venereal Person.
† b. of animals: (see quot.). Obs.–1
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., Isagoge c 3. The Venereall [animals], are the delitious,… mild, kinde, pleasant, and tame; as the Calfe, cony, dog, goat, and scinck.
† c. (Cf. vitriol of Venus s.v. VENUS1.) Obs.
1684–5. Boyle, Min. Waters, 55. Common English Vitriol, as also that of Danzick which is Venereal.
† 4. Physically beautiful or attractive. Obs.–1
1598. R. Haydocke, trans. Lomazzo, I. 117. Raph. Vrbine was famous for making of delicate and Venereall bodies.
