[f. as prec. + -NESS.] The quality of being lascivious.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., Ded. Verses to Raleigh. The vertuousnes of Belphœbe, the lasciviousnes of Hellenora, and many the like.
1611. Bible, Eph. iv. 19. Who being past feeling, haue giuen themselues ouer vnto lasciuiousnesse, to worke all vncleannesse with greedinesse.
1680. Dryden, Ovid’s Epist., Pref. The lasciviousness of his Elegies.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 546. They acquire, as they grow warm in the dance, a frantic lasciviousness.
1900. Kipling, in Westm. Gaz., 14 May, 5/3. If, through any intellectual lasciviousness, we … prefer to tickle our emotions by being generous … at other people’s expense.
