Aphrodisiacs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Substances or foods believed to enhance sexual desire or pleasure
2. Items purported to stimulate erotic feelings or increase libido through various natural or artificial means
3. Compounds or elements thought to boost romance and intimacy by influencing hormonal or psychological responses

Etymology: Aphrodisiacs take their name from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, and the Greeks used the adjective "aphrodisiakos" to mean "venereal," or pertaining to sexual love. The plain sense of the word was therefore about the act and appetites of love rather than about any potion. The Greek adjective itself was built from "Aphrodisios," meaning "belonging to Aphrodite," so the goddess's name sits at the heart of the word. English borrowed the term from this Greek adjective, and it came to describe things that stir desire. The word's pluralized form, "aphrodisiacs," is simply the plural of that noun, referring to the many substances or foods that people have believed could arouse libido.

Synonyms: stimulants, arousal enhancers, libido boosters