amatory

English

Etymology

From Latin amātōrius (“pertaining to love or a lover”, adjective), from amātor (“a lover”), from amō (“I love”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: äʹ-mə-tə-rē, ăʹ-mə-tô'-rē, IPA^(key): /ˈɑ.mə.tə.ɹi/, /ˈæ.məˌtɔː.ɹi/
  • (UK) IPA^(key): [ˈɑː.mə.tə.ɹɪ]
  • (US) IPA^(key): [ˈæ.məˌtɔɹ.i]

    • Audio (US):

      (file)

• Hyphenation: a‧ma‧to‧ry
• Rhymes: -ɑmətəɹi, -æmətɔːɹi

Adjective

amatory (comparative more amatory, superlative most amatory)

1. Of or relating to love, especially sexual love.
   • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, II.170:

     Eggs, oysters, too, are amatory food; / But who is their purveyor from above / Heaven knows […]

   • 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 14:

     In the desperate search for amatory satisfactions, the most monstrous ingredients have throughout the ages, been sought and compounded into electuaries and pastilles, philtres and ointments.

Derived terms

• amatorily

Related terms

• amateur
• amiable
• amicable
• amorous

Translations

of or relating to love, especially sexual love

Catalan: amatori French: amatoire (fr) Galician: amatorio Irish: grách, mianúil Italian: amatorio (it) Portuguese: amatório Spanish: concupisciente

References

• “amatory”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “amatory”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• “amatory”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.