lust

Etymology

From Middle English lust, from Old English lust (“lust, pleasure, longing”), from Proto-Germanic *lustuz. Akin to Old Saxon, Dutch lust, Old Frisian, Old High German, German Lust, Swedish lust, Danish lyst, Icelandic lyst, Old Norse losti, Gothic 𐌻𐌿𐍃𐍄𐌿𐍃 (lustus), and perhaps to Sanskrit लष् (laṣ), लषति (laṣati, “to desire”) and Albanian lushë (“bitch, savage dog, promiscuous woman”), or to English loose. Compare list (“to please”), listless.

noun

1. A feeling of strong desire, especially such a feeling driven by sexual arousal.
   Seeing Leslie fills me with a passionate lust.
2. (archaic) A general want or longing, not necessarily sexual.
   The boarders hide their lust to go home.
3. (archaic) A delightful cause of joy, pleasure.
   An ideal son is his father's lasting lust.
   Pompe, pryde, honour, ryches & worldly luſt c. 1521, John Skelton, Speke Parott
4. (obsolete) virility; vigour; active power

verb

1. (intransitive, usually in the phrase "lust after") To look at or watch with a strong desire, especially of a sexual nature.
   He was lusting after the woman in the tight leather miniskirt.