Actually I just have to chip in a bit, as I love words.
The Compact Oxford English Dictionary online (the Oxford English Dictionary is the dictionary for word geeks) defines homosexual [adjective] as feeling or involving sexual attraction to people of one's own sex and [noun] as a homosexual person. The word comes from both Latin and Greek roots and literally translates to "same sex".
Gay [adjective] is defined as homosexual, relating to homosexuals, dated: light-hearted and carefree, and dated: brightly coloured; showy. Under usage it states that gay is now a standard term for homosexual. As a result, it is now very difficult to use gay in its earlier meanings 'carefree' or ‘bright and showy’ without arousing a sense of double entendre. Gay in its modern sense typically refers to men, lesbian being the standard term for homosexual women.
The word homophile is an alternative to the word homosexual, preferred by some because it emphasizes love.
To most people though, sexuality is so inseparable from love that the terms homophilia and heterophilia are rarely used while homosexual and heterosexual are in general use.
I was under the impression that the origin of the words, homo + sexual was because of GENDER, not sexuality per se. Like you mentioned from Greek and Latin literally translated as "same sex", not necessarily "having sex with your same sex"... although it has grown to mean that nowadays, much like gay.
I.e. If you were asked, what is your sex? You'd answer gender and not orientation.
And for whatever reason the word is not 'homosex', it's homosex
ual, and because it contains the words "sexual" (i.e. having sex) and not just "sex" (i.e. gender) people just assume it's "having sex with your same sex" and not just "involving your own sex". Or I don't know could be the other way around too, if the word was "homosex" lol.
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Not sure exactly about the validity of every dictionary, but one of the definitions from dictionary.com is along the lines of what I'm talking about.
Homosexual Definition | Definition of Homosexual at Dictionary.com
"
–adjective
1.of, pertaining to, or exhibiting homosexuality.
2.of, pertaining to, or noting the same sex."
So am I incorrect in assuming that it can be used the way I'd like to use it? :tongue: