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Webster 1913 Edition
Obscene
Ob-scene′
,Adj.
[L.
obscenus
, obscaenus
, obscoenus
, ill looking, filthy, obscene: cf. F. obscéne
.] 1.
Offensive to chastity or modesty; expressing or presenting to the mind or view something which delicacy, purity, and decency forbid to be exposed; impure;
as,
obscene
language; obscene
pictures.Words that were once chaste, by frequent use grew
obscene
and uncleanly. I. Watts.
2.
Foul; fifthy; disgusting.
A girdle foul with grease binds his
obscene
attire. Dryden (Aeneid, vi. 417).
3.
Inauspicious; ill-omened.
[R.]
[A Latinism]
At the cheerful light,
The groaning ghosts and birds
The groaning ghosts and birds
obscene
take flight. Dryden.
Syn. – Impure; immodest; indecent; unchaste; lewd.
– Ob-scene′ly
, adv.
Ob-scene′ness
, Noun.
Webster 1828 Edition
Obscene
OBSCE'NE
,Adj.
1.
Offensive to chastity and delicacy; impure; expressing or presenting to the mind or view something which delicacy, purity and decency forbid; to be exposed; as obscene language; obscene pictures.2.
Foul; filthy; offensive; disgusting.A girdle foul with grease binds his obscene attire.
3.
Inauspicious; ill omened.At the cheerful light, the groaning ghosts and birds obscene take flight.
Definition 2024
obscene
obscene
See also: obscène
English
Alternative forms
- obscæne (archaic)
Adjective
obscene (comparative obscener or more obscene, superlative obscenest or most obscene) (see usage notes)
- Offensive to current standards of decency or morality
- Lewd or lustful
- Disgusting or repulsive
- Beyond all reason
- Liable to deprave or corrupt
Usage notes
- The comparative obscener and superlative obscenest, though formed by valid rules for English, are less common than more obscene and most obscene.
Translations
offensive to current standards of decency or morality
|
lewd or lustful
disgusting or repulsive
liable to deprave or corrupt
Latin
Adjective
obscēne
- vocative masculine singular of obscēnus
References
- obscene in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- obscene in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- Félix Gaffiot (1934), “obscene”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.
Romanian
Noun
obscene f pl
- plural of obscenă