venery

A hunter practices the art of venery with his hounds in the forest.

Definition

1. Noun (archaic):
   • The practice or sport of hunting: "venery" refers to the art or pursuit of hunting, especially with hounds.
   • The pursuit of sexual pleasure: "venery" also denotes sexual indulgence or the gratification of sexual desires.

Usage Examples

• Hunting sense:

  • The medieval nobles were skilled in the arts of venery, often hunting deer with packs of hounds. (The nobles were expert in the practice of hunting with dogs.)

• Sexual sense:

  • The ancient texts warned against excessive venery, which was seen as a path to moral decay. (The texts cautioned against too much indulgence in sexual pleasure.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be given to venery": to be inclined toward hunting or sexual pursuits.

  • The king was known to be given to venery, spending his days in the forest with his falconers. (The king was devoted to hunting.)

• "the laws of venery": rules or customs governing hunting or sexual conduct.

  • The laws of venery dictated which animals could be hunted by nobles. (The rules of hunting defined permissible prey.)

Variants and Related Words

• Venerial (adj): relating to hunting or sexual activity (rarely used).

  • The venerial arts were passed down through generations. (The skills of hunting were inherited.)

• Venerist (n): a person who practices venery (hunting or sexual indulgence).

  • He was a noted venerist, renowned for his skill with the bow. (He was a famous hunter.)

Synonyms

• Hunting sense: (specific types of hunting).
• Sexual sense: (indulgence in sexual pleasure).

Related Idioms

• To follow venery: to engage in hunting or sexual pursuits.

  • The young lord followed venery with reckless abandon. (He pursued hunting or pleasure without restraint.)

• Venery and venison: a phrase linking hunting (venery) to its product (venison, deer meat).

  • Venery and venison were central to the noble diet. (Hunting and deer meat were key to noble cuisine.)