adv. [f. prec. + -LY2.] In a licentious manner.
1. Without regard to limit or rule; loosely.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., Pref. If they will haue the boundes of the same Fathers … to be stedfastly kept: why doo they … so licentiously passe them?
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 380. The Nazarites … had heretofore liued too lycenciously.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. iv. (Arb.), 89. Our auncient rymers … vsed these Cesures either very seldome … or else very licentiously.
1625. K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, II. i. 67. Lycogenes uttered this sparingly … but his fellowes did more licenciously presse the King’s dishonour.
1751. Earl Orrery, Remarks Swift (1752), 177. When I am writing to you … I … wander licentiously out of my sphere.
1804. Ann. Rev., II. 19/2. No poem was ever so licentiously translated as the English Lusiad.
1894. Westm. Gaz., 3 Jan., 1/2. Discussion … would otherwise have been licentiously prolonged.
2. Without regard to law, decorum or morality; lawlessly, outrageously. Now rare.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., IV. x. (1612), 153. Licentiously to commit all enormities.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., App. 58. That no man should aspire to the Crowne licentiously.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 14. That every one might do therein licentiously, all that which it pleaseth him.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. ii. 61. Let them act as licentiously as they will.
1781. S. Peters, Hist. Connecticut, 12. Without shewing their right to the spot: they licentiously chose it.
3. Lasciviously, lewdly.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 26 b. I speake not … how licentiously painters and caruers haue in this point shewed their wantonnesse.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. xxx. 7. They licentiously folow their owne lusts.
1665. Brathwait, Comment. Two Tales (1901), 36. It is not good to touch a woman. To which she answers; not inordinately or licentiously.
1882–3. Schaff, Relig. Encycl., I. 159/2. The Phoenician and Syrian female divinities were worshipped licentiously.
