sexual
/ˈsekʃuəl/
adjective
Origin
Latin
sexus — a division, sex, gender
Overview
Meaning Now
- Relating to sex, sexuality, or the distinction between male and female.
- Relating to sexual intercourse or reproduction.
- Of or relating to the sex of an organism (e.g., sexual dimorphism).
Literal older meaning
of or pertaining to sex
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
sexual
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term evolved from a biological and taxonomic descriptor toward a broader psychological and sociological context in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Evolution
- Latin
sexus
“sex, division, gender”
Derived from 'secare' (to cut/divide)
- Late Latin
sexualis
“pertaining to sex”
Adjectival form of sexus
- Early Modern English
sexual
“relating to sex”
Adopted from Latin via French/scholarly usage
Connections
Word parts
sex
root
sex, gender
-ual
suffix
relating to
Related across languages
French
sexuel
relating to sex
Spanish
relating to sex
Italian
sessuale
relating to sex
Related words
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Related to sexual
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.