different between dulcet vs luscious

English

Etymology

From Middle English doucet, from Old French doucet, from dulz, dulce (“sweet, pleasant”) + diminutive -et, from Latin dulcis (“sweet, pleasant”). Cognate with Spanish dulce, French doux, Italian dolce, Portuguese doce, and Romanian dulce. Doublet of dolcetto and doucet.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?d?l.s?t/, /?d?l.s?t/

Adjective

dulcet

1. Sweet, especially when describing voice or tones; melodious.

   Synonyms: birdsweet, mellifluous

2. Generally pleasing; agreeable.

   Synonyms: agreeable, soothing

3. (archaic) Sweet to the taste.

   Synonyms: sugary, sweet

Related terms

Translations

See also

• dulcimer

Latin

Verb

dulcet

1. third-person singular present active subjunctive of dulc?

English

Alternative forms

• lushious (obsolete)

Etymology

From earlier lushious, lussyouse (“luscious, richly sweet, delicious”), a corruption of *lustious, from lusty (“pleasant, delicious”) +? -ous. Shakespeare uses both lush (short for lushious) and lusty in the same sense: "How lush and lusty the grass looks" (The Tempest ii. I.52).

An alternative etymology connects luscious to a Middle English term: lucius, an alteration of licious, believed to be a shortening of delicious.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?l???s/
• Rhymes: -???s

Adjective

luscious (comparative more luscious, superlative most luscious)

1. Sweet and pleasant; delicious.
   • 1863, H.S. Thompson, Down by the River Liv'd a Maiden

     Her lips were like two luscious beefsteaks.

   • 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz

     There were lovely patches of greensward all about, with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits.

2. Sexually appealing; seductive.
3. Obscene.

Translations