LUST

Sinful longing; the inward sin which leads to the falling away from God (Rom. 1:21). “Lust, the origin of sin, has its place in the heart, not of necessity, but because it is the centre of all moral forces and impulses and of spiritual activity.” In Mark 4:19 “lusts” are objects of desire.

LUST was not used formerly in its present restricted sense, but of any strong desire. In the A.V. it is the translation of three Hebrew and four Greek words. "To lust" appears six times in the A.V. Ps 81:12; Rom 1:24-27.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. Pleasure [Obs.] " Lust and jollity." Chaucer.

2. Inclination; desire. [Obs.] For little lust had she to talk of aught. Spenser. My lust to devotion is little. Bp. Hall.

3. Longing desire; eagerness to possess or enjoy; -- in a had sense; as, the lust of gain. The lust of reigning. Milton.

4. Licentious craving; sexual appetite. Milton.

5. Hence: Virility; vigor; active power. [Obs.] Bacon.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To list; to like. [Obs.] Chaucer. " Do so if thou lust. " Latimer.

2. To have an eager, passionate, and especially an inordinate or sinful desire, as for the gratification of the sexual appetite or of covetousness; -- often with after. Whatsoever thy soul lusteth after. Deut. xii. 15. Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matt. v. 28. The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy. James iv. 5.