orexis

Etymology

From Latin orexis (“longing; appetite”), from Ancient Greek ὄρεξις (órexis, “desire”), from ὀρέγω (orégō, “I reach, stretch”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈɹɛksɪs/

Noun

orexis (plural orexes)

1. (psychology) The affective and conative character of mental activity as contrasted with its cognitive aspect; the appetitive aspect of an act; desire, appetite.
   • 1974, Guy Davenport, Tatlin!:

     A sweet orexis rising in his cock, a blush of fever mixing tickles in his balls, Adriaan slid his briefs off and began to lay out the makings for supper.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /oˈrek.sis/, [ɔˈrɛk.sɪs]

Noun

orexis f (genitive orexis); third declension

1. a longing
2. an appetite
3. genitive singular of orexis
4. vocative singular of orexis

References

• orexis in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• orexis in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• orexis in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• orexis in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette