Word of the Day
: May 24, 2010luscious
playWhat It Means
1 : having a delicious sweet taste or smell
2 : sexually attractive
3 a : richly luxurious or appealing to the senses
b : excessively ornate
luscious in Context
The luscious aroma of freshly baked apple pies drifted from the open window of the farmhouse kitchen.
Did You Know?
Have you ever heard a young child say something is "licius" when he or she really means it's "delicious"? Back in the Middle Ages, the word "licius" was sometimes used as a shortened form of "delicious" by adults and kids alike. Linguists believe that "luscious" developed when "licius" was further altered by 15th-century speakers. Both words ultimately derive from the Latin verb "delicere," meaning "to entice by charm or attraction." The adjective "lush," which can sometimes mean "delicious" as well, is not a shortened form of "luscious"; it derived on its own from the Middle English "lusch," meaning "soft or tender."
