Dictionary formlibido, libidinis(feminine)
Translation
desire, longing; lust, wantonness
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Grammar
Cases
| Case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativethe subject | libido | libidines |
| Vocativecalling someone: O ... | libido | libidines |
| Accusativethe direct object; after ad, in (into), per | libidinem | libidines |
| Genitiveof | libidinis | libidinum |
| Dativeto, for | libidini | libidinibus |
| Ablativeby, with, from; after a, ab, cum, de, e, ex, in (in), sine | libidine | libidinibus |
Examples
regebat.
Desire ruled the whole of him.
.
He lived just as he pleased.
.
He did many things for the sake of lust.
caecus .
He was blind with lust and anger.
.
He overcame the desires of the body at last.
Libido, libidinis, f., third declension, from libet, "it pleases". Also spelt lubido in older texts, and both forms are correct.
The neutral sense is simply what you feel like doing, which is why ad libidinem means "at one's own pleasure, arbitrarily" and stands behind the modern ad lib. From there it slides two ways. Politically it names the caprice of a man who does as he likes because nobody can stop him, which is how Cicero uses it as an accusation. Morally it becomes appetite, and the Christian writers and eventually Freud left it there. Classical Latin keeps cupiditas for greed with an object and libido for wanting that has no rational one.
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libido: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "libido" (desire, longing; lust, wantonness): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is taught in chapter 9, lesson 10: libido, simulacrum, tenuis and 6 more words.