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Definition of promiscuous - 4 dictionary results

pro⋅mis⋅cu⋅ous

  [pruh-mis-kyoo-uhs]
Use promiscuous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. characterized by or involving indiscriminate mingling or association, esp. having sexual relations with a number of partners on a casual basis.
2. consisting of parts, elements, or individuals of different kinds brought together without order.
3. indiscriminate; without discrimination.
4. casual; irregular; haphazard.
Origin:
1595–1605; < L prōmiscuus mixed up, equiv. to prō- pro- 1 + misc(ēre) to mix + -uus deverbal adj. suffix; see -ous

Related forms:
pro⋅mis⋅cu⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
pro⋅mis⋅cu⋅ous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. unchaste. 2. hodgepodge, confused, mixed, jumbled. See miscellaneous. 3. careless.

Antonyms:
1, 2. pure. 3. selective.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To promiscuous
pro·mis·cu·ous   (prə-mĭs'kyōō-əs)   
adj.  

  1. Having casual sexual relations frequently with different partners; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners.

  2. Lacking standards of selection; indiscriminate.

  3. Casual; random.

  4. Consisting of diverse, unrelated parts or individuals; confused: "Throngs promiscuous strew the level green" (Alexander Pope).


[From Latin prōmiscuus, possessed equally : prō-, intensive pref.; see pro-1 + miscēre, to mix; see meik- in Indo-European roots.]
pro·mis'cu·ous·ly adv., pro·mis'cu·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

promiscuous 
1603, "consisting of a disorderly mixture of people or things," from L. promiscuus "mixed, indiscriminate," from pro- "forward" + miscere "to mix" (see mix). Meaning "indiscriminate in sexual relations" first recorded 1900, from promiscuity (1849, "indiscriminate mixture;" sexual sense 1865), from Fr. promiscuité, from L. promiscuus.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pro·mis·cu·ous
Pronunciation: pr&-'mis-ky&-w&s
Function: adjective
: not restricted to one sexual partner
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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