erotolepsy erotolepsy the term erotolepsy was first used by thomas hardy in his 1895 novel jude the obscure to describe a passionate sensual desire and longing which is more violent and urgently felt than erotomania. it has been variously described as "love-seizure" and "sexual recklessness". derived from eroto- and -lepsy, it has since become more widely used, including by american poet susan mitchell in her 2001 poetry collection erotikon.