Sensual vs Sensuous

[NotWise]

In Animal House, Marion Wormer distinguish "sensual" and "sensuous" with:

No, vegetables are sensual. People are sensuous.

Was she right?

Looking at the discussion of synonyms in Merriam-Webster, "sensual" refers to gratification of a physical appetite, while "sensuous" refers to gratification of aesthetic needs.

Is there really a consistent distinction? How do you use them?

 

[lovecraft68]

Regardless of the true definition, sensual/sensuous seem to have the same meaning for erotic purposes, and whether one is technically used for a person, the other more of an object, authors use them interchangeably and readers don't seem to pick up on it.

Maybe a real word Nazi might, but they'd be the exception to the rule.

 

[rescatooor]

Reminds me of that line in Reality Bites in which Ethan Hawke defines irony as something like: "when the actual meaning is the complete opposite from the literal meaning." (Yes, I googled and picked the first suggestion.) Needless to say, it's a severely flawed definition. Of the 90s irony definitions, Alanis Morrisette prevails.

In university we used to regularly discuss how dictionaries and even simple definitions that appear correct regularly fail because they lose nuance, connotations, context register and the like.

If I was to guess the difference, when a person is "sensual" it means they can experience things as sensual as well as be sensual for others. Both interpretations are valid. A "sensuous" person is more sensual to others, less so to themselves. But I could be completely wrong. It's a question of how language is used in the end.

 

[SimonDoom]

Traditionally, "sensual" has had a more sexual element to it. The meanings of the two words overlap, but "sensual" concerns the gratification of appetites, such as sexual appetites, and "sensuous" is a word used to distinguish a type of attitude from one concerning intellectual appreciation of something.

In most cases, you probably could use either one and it wouldn't be objectionable, even to some who's picky about diction. But "sensual" is probably the better choice in most erotic stories.

 

[KeithD]

I don't think I've ever seen the need to make a distinction.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Reminds me of that line in Reality Bites in which Ethan Hawke defines irony as something like: "when the actual meaning is the complete opposite from the literal meaning." (Yes, I googled and picked the first suggestion.) Needless to say, it's a severely flawed definition. Of the 90s irony definitions, Alanis Morrisette prevails.

In university we used to regularly discuss how dictionaries and even simple definitions that appear correct regularly fail because they lose nuance, connotations, context register and the like.

If I was to guess the difference, when a person is "sensual" it means they can experience things as sensual as well as be sensual for others. Both interpretations are valid. A "sensuous" person is more sensual to others, less so to themselves. But I could be completely wrong. It's a question of how language is used in the end.

Rock on with Alanis Morrisette, I love the bitch.

"I want you to know that I'm happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
An older version of me, is she perverted like me?
Would she go down on you in a theatre?
Does she speak eloquently? And would she have your baby
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother"

Isn't Ironic, she wishes them best, and still manages to let him know he fucked up so ROYAL. I wonder if Dave Coulier is still happy with Alanis's replacement?

 

[SamScribble]

Although there are days when old geezers like me lament the ‘misuse’ of words like unique and anticipate and utilise, in the real world, word meaning is descriptive not prescriptive. Words mean what the writer intends them to mean.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Although there are days when old geezers like me lament the ‘misuse’ of words like unique and anticipate and utilise, in the real world, word meaning is descriptive not prescriptive. Words mean what the writer intends them to mean.

Dusted the old Humpty Dumpty suit off there, Sam? Don't loose your balance on the wall .

 

[Handley_Page]

In Animal House, Marion Wormer distinguish "sensual" and "sensuous" with:
Looking at the discussion of synonyms in Merriam-Webster, "sensual" refers to gratification of a physical appetite, while "sensuous" refers to gratification of aesthetic needs.

Is there really a consistent distinction? How do you use them?

My little concise Oxford says:-
usage The words sensual and sensuous are frequently used interchangeably to mean ‘gratifying the senses’, especially in a sexual sense. This goes against a traditional distinction, by which sensuous is the more neutral term, meaning ‘relating to the senses rather than the intellect’. In practice, the connotations of sensuous are such that it is difficult to use it neutrally, and evidence suggests that this use is indeed rare in modern English. If a neutral meaning is intended it is advisable to use alternative wording.

 

[SamScribble]

Dusted the old Humpty Dumpty suit off there, Sam? Don't loose your balance on the wall .

It's OK, EB. I can hear the King's horses approaching as we speak.

 

[SimonDoom]

Words mean what the writer intends them to mean.

I wouldn't quite put it that way. I'd say words have "meaning" to the extent there is a meeting of the minds between writer and reader about the meaning of the words. A misunderstood idiosyncratic intention does not give rise to a meaningful meaning. But if the writer and the reader agree on a meaning, a third party is hard-pressed to interject that the meaning isn't a real meaning, even if the meaning doesn't follow the usual conventions.

Sensual v. sensuous is a good example of a distinction with a subtle, but sometimes important difference where the use of "sensual" shows sensitivity to shades of meaning that might be important (or in a particular case it might not).

 

[KeithD]

I think the reality is that words mean what the reader takes them as meaning.

 

[yukonnights]

IMO, it's best to use the common definition of a word rather than assume some mutual understanding with thousands of readers. I think this below from Purdue University is pretty clear and straightforward. A finely polished walking stick of rare hardwood is sensuous — soft silk panties can be both sensuous and sensual.

****
Granted, both "senuous" and "sensual" are adjectives meaning to appeal to the senses, but there's a significant difference that outweighs this similarity.

"Sensuous" means to appeal to the senses or to have strong sensory appeal.

Examples: The experience of reading an actual book is sensuous in a way that reading from a screen is not. The sauce is sensuous in its richness.

"Sensual" is altogether more carnal in meaning. It basically pertains to fleshly or sexual appeal.

Example: They think the movie is too sensual for young viewers.

Hint: "Sensual" and "sexual" both end in "ual."

 

[LAHomedog]

<------- Picking up a cucumber in the produce section.

Well, I don't know how to distinguish the two words, but mine's bigger.