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Where does the word "lust" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic lustuz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
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Where does the word "lust" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic lustuz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
Lust’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: lustuz meant “pleasure, desire.” German 'Lust' still means pleasure or desire in general. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as lust. Meant pleasure or desire of any kind. It reached English by 1500s as lust. Narrowed to sinful desire through its use in Bible translations. Today, lust means strong sexual desire.
- Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient lustuz "pleasure, desire", German 'Lust' still means pleasure or desire in general.
- Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s lust "pleasure", meant pleasure or desire of any kind.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s lust "strong desire", narrowed to sinful desire through its use in Bible translations.