Forms: 4, 6– sodomite, 4–6 sodomyt(e, 5 sodomit, -ighte, sodamite, sodam-, sodemyte. [a. OF. sodomite, or ad. L. Sodomīta (Gr. Σοδομίτης), f. SODOM: see -ITE1 1 a. Sense 1 occurs also in OF.]
† 1. Sodomy. Obs. rare.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27966. Vnkindli sin and sodomite, Austin cals al suilk delite, Þat es not tuix womman and man.
c. 1315. Shoreham IV. 399. And sodomyt hys senne Aȝens kende y-do.
2. One who practises or commits sodomy.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 55. Þat prelatis … ben gostly sodomytis worse þan bodily sodomytis of sodom and gomor.
a. 1400. Apol. Loll., 55. Are þei not … werr and abhominabler þan carnal sodomits?
1477. Caxton, Dictes, 11 b. Bren the Sodomytes and punysshe the men taken in fornicacion.
1508. Kennedie, Flyting w. Dunbar, 527. Deuill, dampnit dog, sodomyte insatiable.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 231/1. Whores as they are, yea … vile and shamefull Sodomites, committing suche heinous and abhominable actes, that it is horrible to thinke of.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IX. 409. An open Sodomite, and horrible blasphemer.
1682. Shadwell, Medal, 42. He boasts of Vice (which he did ne’r commit), Calls himself Whoremaster and Sodomite.
1705. Hickeringill, Priest-cr., II. v. 49. An Adulterer, Simonist, Sodomite, Murtherer, Arrian.
b. attrib. Sodomitic, sodomitish. rare.
13[?]. Seuyn Sages, 1564 (W.). Wimmen he louede swithe lite, And usede sinne sodomighte.
1707. J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 510. That Sodomite Page.
3. An inhabitant of Sodom.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. vi. (1883), 134. The … vnnaturell synne of lecherye of the sodamites.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 105 b. Thus lyued ye vertuous man Loth amonge the Sodomytes.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Serm. (1637), 212. When he fought against the Sodomites, the fire took his part.
1643. Caryl, Expos. Job, I. 1752. The Sodomites were surprized, when destroyed; they expected it not.
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Antiq., I. xi. About this time the Sodomites grew proud, on account of their riches and great wealth.
1865. R. Morris, Gen. & Ex., 31, marg. The wicked Sodomites beset Lot’s house.
1876. B. Martin, Messiah’s Kingd., VI. iii. 331. The unnatural lust of the Sodomites.
Hence † Sodomiter, a sodomite; † Sodomitess, a woman sodomite. Obs.
1523. Coverdale, trans. Dulichius’ Of the Olde God, R. Arystotle the murtherer, Auerrois the sodomyter, Plato the traytour.
1611. Bible, Deut. xxiii. 17. There shalbe no whore [marg. Sodomitesse] of the daughters of Israel, not a Sodomite of the sonnes of Israel.
