From The American Heritage Dictionary, New College Edition, 1978.
Homosexuality: 1. Sexual desire for others of one's own sex. 2. Sexual activity with another of the same sex.
Lesbian: [all the references to "residents of the island of Lesbos come first]...4. relating to, or characteristic of female homosexuals.
Transexual: [no listing]
Transgender: [no listing]
Observations: Even in 1978, the only real definition was homosexuality. The definitions of "gay" and "lesbian" simply referred readers to the word homosexuality. We find it interesting that the actual verb part of the definitions of homosexuality are "sexual desire" and "sexual activity" as opposed to "love" or even "attraction to."
Why are there no definitions for transexual or transgender?
This series of posts explores the changing definition of the most basic words in our community. As times change, the words change. Keep coming back to this category, as we will attempt to add other notes, observations and thoughts about how our words have changed over the years. Perhaps we can make connections to how we have changed and to how our society as changed, as well.
If you have any comments please send them using the comment form. We are simply looking up these words whenever we find a dictionary or encyclopedia, and noting the most recent copyright. Please feel free to send us your own entries.
