promiscuous
/prəˈmɪskjuəs/
adjective
Origin
Latin
promiscuus — mixed, mingled, indiscriminate
Overview
Meaning Now
- Having or characterized by many transient sexual relationships.
- Demonstrating or implying an undiscriminating or casual approach; lacking standards of selection.
- Consisting of a wide variety of things or people mixed together without order.
Literal older meaning
mixed together (Latin: promiscuus)
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
promiscuous
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The word originally carried a neutral sense of 'mixed' or 'undifferentiated' in English. During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was commonly used in phrases like 'a promiscuous crowd' to mean a heterogeneous group. Its specific association with sexual behavior began to dominate in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Evolution
- Latin
promiscuus
“mixed, shared in common”
- 17th-century English
promiscuous
“mingled, confused, without distinction”
Initially used to describe general mixtures of items or groups.
- 19th-century English
promiscuous
“sexually indiscriminate”
The usage narrowed to describe social and eventually sexual conduct.
Connections
Word parts
pro-
prefix
forward or intensive
misc-
root
to mix
-uous
suffix
having the quality of
Related across languages
French
promiscu
promiscuous
Italian
promiscuo
mixed, indiscriminate
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Related to promiscuous
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.