a. and sb. [ad. Gr. ἀφροδῑσιακ-ός venereal, f. ἀφρυδίσι-ος; see below.]

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  A.  adj. Venereal; having a venereal tendency.

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1830.  Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 103. The nut … is eatable and aphrodisiac.

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1862.  Rawlinson, Anc. Mon., I. vii. 175. Ishtar’s aphrodisiac character.

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  B.  sb.

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  1.  A drug or preparation inducing venereal desire.

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1719.  Glossogr. Nova, Aphrodisiacks, things that excite Lust or Venery.

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1874.  M. Cooke, Fungi, 103. Truffles are no longer regarded as aphrodisiacs.

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  2.  fig.

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1873.  J. Morley, Rousseau, I. vi. 198. Like some evil mental aphrodisiac.

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1881.  Ld. Lytton, in 19th Cent., Nov., 44/2. But a sadly serious literature of sentimental aphrodisiacs?—Faugh!

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