English
bisexual
From bi- + -sexual, via the French bisexuel (bi-, sexuel).
Formed from bi- + -sexual
first attested First used of sexuality in Richard von Krafft-Ebing's 1886 Psychopathia Sexualis (in German) and Charles Gilbert Chaddock's 1892 English translation thereof, due to the theory that people were naturally attracted to the opposite sex and so the brain or mind of a person attracted to "both" sexes (or to the same sex) must be partly of another sex and thus "hermaphroditic" (as stated in the etymology)
The story
Attested since 1792 as a synonym in botany for "hermaphroditic" ("having male and female parts"). First used of sexuality in Richard von Krafft-Ebing's 1886 Psychopathia Sexualis (in German) and Charles Gilbert Chaddock's 1892 English translation thereof, due to the theory that people were naturally attracted to the opposite sex and so the brain or mind of a person attracted to "both" sexes (or to the same sex) must be partly of another sex and thus "hermaphroditic".disputed Scholars disagree here; the competing view is quoted as the source gives it.
Today it means
adj Sexually attracted to both opposite-sex and same-sex individuals. (Compare pansexual.)
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / bisexual