Athanasian wench

English

Etymology

The first words of the Athanasian Creed are, in Latin, "Quicunque vult (salvus esse...)", "whoever wants to (be saved...)".

Noun

Athanasian wench (plural Athanasian wenches)

1. (archaic, slang) A sexually promiscuous or loose woman, willing to have sexual intercourse with anybody.
   • ca 1980, Peter Klappert, Satan Who Is Most Noisy When He Whispers, published in Idiot Princess of the Last Dynasty. New York: Knopf in 1984 →ISBN:

     Of course I couldn't stop myself

     — for I was an Athanasian wench

     who said Quicunque vult and Amen to everything —

     stop myself from thinking

                               What an ugly cock this Fridolin

     must have, some primitive weapon, an iguana-headed […]

     crude killing thing, a bulldog's kisser

     at the end of a pick handle.

   • 1901, Justin Huntly McCarthy, If I were king, page 35:

     Villon gently cooled her impatience. "Hush, hush, my girl! There are many kinds of love, as you ought to know well enough. I am a rogue and a vagabond, no less, and so sometimes I love you and other such Athanasian wenches; Isabeau there and Jehanneton."

Synonyms

• quicumque vult