What does "illecebrous" mean?
Tending to attract; enticing.
Illecebrous
/ɪˈlɛsɪbɹəs/ adj
adj ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Tending to attract; enticing.
- Grammar: illecebrous is listed as adj.
- Nearest alternatives: attractive.
- Usage evidence: [The Firste Boke, Chapter VII (In What Wise Musike may be to a Noble Man Nessarie: And what Modestie ought to be therin), page 26] And therfore the great kynge Alexander, whan he had vainquisshed Ilion, where some tyme was set the moste noble citie of Troy, beinge demaunded of one if he wold se the harpe of Paris Alexander, who rauisshed Helene, he therat gentilly smilyng, answered that it was nat the thyng that he moche desired, but that he had rather se the harpe of Achilles, wherto he sange, nat the illecebrous dilectations of Venus, but the valiaunt actes and noble affaires of excellent princis. [The Seconde Boke, Chapter XI (The True Discription of Amitie or Frendship), page 164] Where the studie is elegant and the mater illecebrous, that is to say, swete to the redar, the course wherof is rather gentill persuasion and quicke reasoninges than ouer subtill argumentes or litigous controuersies, there also it hapneth that the studentes do delite one in a nother and without enuie or malicious contention.
How to use "illecebrous"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "illecebrous" is acting as adj in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Tending to attract; enticing. formal, obsolete
"[The Firste Boke, Chapter VII (In What Wise Musike may be to a Noble Man Nessarie: And what Modestie ought to be therin), page 26] And therfore the great kynge Alexander, whan he had vainquisshed Ilion, where some tyme was set the moste noble citie of Troy, beinge demaunded of one if he wold se the harpe of Paris Alexander, who rauisshed Helene, he therat gentilly smilyng, answered that it was nat the thyng that he moche desired, but that he had rather se the harpe of Achilles, wherto he sange, nat the illecebrous dilectations of Venus, but the valiaunt actes and noble affaires of excellent princis. [The Seconde Boke, Chapter XI (The True Discription of Amitie or Frendship), page 164] Where the studie is elegant and the mater illecebrous, that is to say, swete to the redar, the course wherof is rather gentill persuasion and quicke reasoninges than ouer subtill argumentes or litigous controuersies, there also it hapneth that the studentes do delite one in a nother and without enuie or malicious contention."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"[The Firste Boke, Chapter VII (In What Wise Musike may be to a Noble Man Nessarie: And what Modestie ought to be therin), page 26] And therfore the great kynge Alexander, whan he had vainquisshed Ilion, where some tyme was set the moste noble citie of Troy, beinge demaunded of one if he wold se the harpe of Paris Alexander, who rauisshed Helene, he therat gentilly smilyng, answered that it was nat the thyng that he moche desired, but that he had rather se the harpe of Achilles, wherto he sange, nat the illecebrous dilectations of Venus, but the valiaunt actes and noble affaires of excellent princis. [The Seconde Boke, Chapter XI (The True Discription of Amitie or Frendship), page 164] Where the studie is elegant and the mater illecebrous, that is to say, swete to the redar, the course wherof is rather gentill persuasion and quicke reasoninges than ouer subtill argumentes or litigous controuersies, there also it hapneth that the studentes do delite one in a nother and without enuie or malicious contention."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "illecebrous"?
Common synonyms include: attractive.
How do you use "illecebrous" in a sentence?
[The Firste Boke, Chapter VII (In What Wise Musike may be to a Noble Man Nessarie: And what Modestie ought to be therin), page 26] And therfore the great kynge Alexander, whan he had vainquisshed Ilion, where some tyme was set the moste noble citie of Troy, beinge demaunded of one if he wold se the harpe of Paris Alexander, who rauisshed Helene, he therat gentilly smilyng, answered that it was nat the thyng that he moche desired, but that he had rather se the harpe of Achilles, wherto he sange, nat the illecebrous dilectations of Venus, but the valiaunt actes and noble affaires of excellent princis. [The Seconde Boke, Chapter XI (The True Discription of Amitie or Frendship), page 164] Where the studie is elegant and the mater illecebrous, that is to say, swete to the redar, the course wherof is rather gentill persuasion and quicke reasoninges than ouer subtill argumentes or litigous controuersies, there also it hapneth that the studentes do delite one in a nother and without enuie or malicious contention.
How do you pronounce "illecebrous"?
Pronounced /ɪˈlɛsɪbɹəs/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin and Latin illecebrōsus (“attractive, enticing”) + English -ous (suffix forming adjectives denoting possession or presence of a quality, commonly in abundance). Illecebrōsus is derived from illecebra (“enticement, lure”) + -ōsus (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘full of’); illecebra from illiciō (“to entice, seduce”) (from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, within’) + laciō (“to ensnare, entice”)) + -bra (suffix forming nouns denoting an instrument).