Pederasty

Pronunciation

• UK: IPA: /ˈpÉ›d.É›.rÉ™s.ti/
• US: IPA: /ˈpÉ›d.É™.ræs.ti/, /ˈpi.dÉ™.ræs.ti/

Alternative forms

• paederasty British
• pæderasty British, dated

Origin

From Ancient Greek παιδεραστία (love of boys), from παιδεραστής (pederast), from παῖς (genitive παιδός) (child, son, boy) + ἐραστής (lover), from ἐράσθαι (to lοve), from ἐράω (to love passionately, to long for).

Full definition of pederasty

Noun

1. Erotic love, sexually expressed or chaste, between a man and an adolescent boy.
2. (archaic) Anal intercourse in general, usually between a man and an adolescent boy.

Usage notes

Originally referred to formal practices mandated by Greek customs and laws. Often used in a modern sense for either lawful or transgressive inter-generational love relationships.

Often used colloquially to describe relationships between adults and pre-pubescent children (see pedophilia).

Synonyms

• boylove euphemistic

Related terms

• pederast
• pederastic
• pedophile