- venery (n.)
- "pursuit of sexual pleasure," late 15c., from Medieval Latin veneria "sexual intercourse," from Latin venus (genitive veneris) "sexual love, sexual desire" (see Venus). In earlier use it may have been felt as a play on now obsolete homonym venery "practice or sport of hunting, the chase" (early 14c.), from Old French venerie, from Latin venari "to hunt" (see venison).