Erotic words vocabulary list? Looking for word(s) describing monogamous...

[xcellent11]

I was wondering if there are any erotic word vocabulary lists / thesauruses available online to help out when you want to better describe erotic things (people and actions namely)...

In particular, I have been at a complete block for some time trying to find a word that describes a monogamous, yet highly sexually active female. Everything I can come up with is some variation that basically means whore/prostitute or promiscuous. Perhaps it has to do with the cultural aspects during the development of the English language (only whores enjoy sex?), but isn't there a suitable word for a sexy/sexual female that just wants one partner (monogamous) or no partner (herself)?

At this point, I'd also be open to non-english words as well if one of them would more accurately convey what I am trying to portray.

Thanks for any help on this!

- X

 

[polynices]

This is interesting. I think you're absolutely right to imply that our terms for the erotic reflect our sexually confused culture. Despite the so-called sexual revolution, as a culture we're still deeply ambivalent about sex - we live in a maze of double standards and contradictions.

Presumably any woman who looks sexually provocative in public will also appear - to men, at least - to be promiscuous. (I emphasize 'appear' - I'm not jumping to conclusions.) As a result, she'll attract the not-very-satisfactory labels that are currently available - e.g 'slut'.

'Slut' itself is an interesting term, of course. It used to be wholly pejorative but it's gained a double meaning over the last twenty years, I think - rather as the word 'freak' did among hippies in the late sixties. That is, people who were initially insulted by the word when used by others adopted it and turned it round, making it positive - though I suspect that 'slut' (unlike 'freak') still maintains its critical overtones to a large extent, even amongst the people - male and female - who use it to describe themselves. I suppose that happens because so many of our attitudes to sex still involve a sense of sin, or at least transgression: 'if sex doesn't feel dirty, you aren't doing it right', etc. So 'I'm going to be a complete slut tonight', while exciting, implies an intention to step outside normal behaviour - to dirty oneself in some way.

The first word that came into my mind to describe your 'monogamous, yet highly sexually active female' was 'wanton' - e.g. 'Mrs Prinn was a person of absolute rectitude in her public dealings, and no whisper of scandal ever attached to her name, but in private with her husband she was a complete and utter wanton ...' I like 'wanton' a lot - more than 'slut', I think - but I have to admit it's a shade old-fashioned. It has an eighteenth century feel to me - maybe it's used in 'Tom Jones' or similar novels?

Other than that, how about 'sensualist'? It's a bit tame, I suppose - there's no sin in it - and it could apply to men and women equally, but it seems reasonably precise. E.g. 'After eleven years of happy, faithful marriage, Janey Prinn was still a committed sensualist ...'

In a story, one way round the problem might be to describe the woman as you have here - as a monogamous, highly-sexed woman - and then to make up a private word to describe her. 'Throbber' might be an example. E.g. 'Janey was absolutely faithful to her husband and she demanded sex in all its varieties at every opportunity. When she was aroused - which was often - her body throbbed and trembled all over, as if it was powered by a powerful erotic engine deep inside her. In fact this sensation, this intimate vibration, was so utterly overwhelming, so lubriciously all-enveloping, that she called herself a 'throbber'. And when she met a woman with what she imagined were similar proclivities to her own, she would smile to herself and think' "Ah, there goes another one - a throbber just like me ... "'

Probably none of that helps much - but it was fun thinking about it.

Cheers,

- polynices

 

[_Lynn_]

Here are some links I have . . .

Erotic Thesaurus

Sex Glossary

BDSM Dictionary

Dictionary of Sex Terms

Erotic Synonyms

Visual Thesaurus

 

[xcellent11]

@ MistressLynn, thank you for the links. The only thing I could find previously that had any content was some sort of sex slang dictionary, which contained mostly completely ridiculous content.

@ Polynices, thanks for the response. I don't particularly like the "oldness" of wanton, I feel it may also take away from the singularity of her sexuality as well as I feel it would convey a sense of disregard for how she finds pleasure instead of intense pleasure she finds in a very select way.

In my research, sex in both Judaism and Christianity was completely ordained by God (for both reproduction and pleasure / enjoyment) and could be either positive or negative depending on the context, just like everything else. There are numerous examples of positive and negative views of sexuality (arousal) and sex (intimacy / intercourse) scattered throughout the Bible. There is a book called "Song of Songs" / "Song of Solomon" which focuses on many arousing / erotic (imo) aspects of sex between 2 seemingly disparate lovers in a very positive way as well.

The reason why I think so many "Christian"-based cultures are so backwards in their public sexual thinking has to do with the many religions that have sprouted up, dividing themselves due to creating their own rules, views, and edicts that are different from what the Bible is actually written to convey.

More back on topic... I do very much like your idea of coming up with an active word with which to describe herself instead of trying to fit into one of societies definitions. I may even incorporate the scenario of how to think of herself into my story and I will spend some time to ponder on this and see what I can come up with in the context of my character and her story. Your comments were very helpful, thank you!

- X

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Here are some links I have . . .

Erotic Thesaurus

Sex Glossary

BDSM Dictionary

Dictionary of Sex Terms

Erotic Synonyms

Visual Thesaurus

Visual Thesaurus does make a limited attempt, but unless there's a recent change I'm unaware of, save your money. Don't get me wrong, it's neat and all, but extremely limited regarding erotica. Much better help is available oniine, and free. And lacking that, well, there's alway Lit.

 

[ravi64]

monogamous

I was wondering if there are any erotic word vocabulary lists / thesauruses available online to help out when you want to better describe erotic things (people and actions namely)...

In particular, I have been at a complete block for some time trying to find a word that describes a monogamous, yet highly sexually active female. Everything I can come up with is some variation that basically means whore/prostitute or promiscuous. Perhaps it has to do with the cultural aspects during the development of the English language (only whores enjoy sex?), but isn't there a suitable word for a sexy/sexual female that just wants one partner (monogamous) or no partner (herself)?

At this point, I'd also be open to non-english words as well if one of them would more accurately convey what I am trying to portray.

Thanks for any help on this!


Well i think the problem is cultural;we are taught to believe in the christian world that beauty that evokes reverence and the beauty that evokes lust are different and may be poles apart ;pun intended;in the east the view is different thus geishas in Japan and kamasutra in india are well respected .The problem needs to be resolved by cultural intermixing; pristine sensuality ,kamasutric chastity are some terms that are near your requirement but none has the true meaning. the idea never the less is very thought provoking.