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▪ I. epicure, n.|ˈɛpɪkjʊə(r)|
Also 6 epecur.
[perh. an appellative use of Epicure (cf. Fr. Épicure, It. Epicuro), ad. L. Epicūrus (as pr. name now used in Lat. form), a. Gr. Ἐπίκουρος, the name of an Athenian philosopher c 300 b.c. It may, however, be ad. late L. epicūrius (= L. epicūrēus) Epicurean, f. Epicūrus; cf. Vergyle, Ovyde, ad. L. Vergilius, Ovidius. See epicuree, epicury.
It does not appear that epicure as a common noun was ever current in Fr.; a single instance (pl. epicures, in sense 2) is cited by Godef. from the Tresor of Brunetto Latino (13th c.), who in an identical passage in one of his Italian works uses epicuri. The Italian lexicographers, however, suggest that the form epicuri, both in this case and in the two or three instances of 14–15th c. in which it is used for ‘Epicureans’, is a scribal error for the more usual epicurei or epicurii.]
†1. (With capital initial.) A disciple or follower of Epicurus; = Epicurean B. 1.
a. A philosopher of the school of Epicurus. Obs.
The distinctive doctrines of Epicurus were, 1. That the highest good is pleasure, which he identified with the practice of virtue. 2. That the gods do not concern themselves at all with men's affairs. 3. That the external world resulted from a fortuitous concourse of atoms.
[1548R. Hutten Sun of Divin. R v b, To confyrme oure myndes against Epicures opinions. 1589Cooper Admon. 118 The schoole of Epicure, and the Atheists, is mightily increased in these dayes.] 1547Bauldwin Mor. Philos. 20 a, Scholers of every secte became Epicures, but none of the Epicures became of other sectes. 1599Davies Immort. Soul (1876) I. 26 Epicures make them swarmes of atomies. 1627–77Feltham Resolves i. lxii. 96, I care not for the planed Stoic, there is a Sect between him and the Epicure. 1772Fletcher Wks. (1795) I. 70 Unrenewed Man has imagined with the Epicure, a careless God.
†b. loosely. One who disbelieves in the divine government of the world, and in a future life; one who recognizes no religious motives for conduct.
1545Joye Exp. Dan. xii. [xi.] 222 He describeth the furye of the Epicures..euen to contempne the very god. 1549Latimer Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 54 Or els beleue (as y⊇ Epecurs do) that after this life ther is neither hel nor heauen. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Ch. Porch x, Were I an Epicure, I could bate swearing. 1691Wood Ath. Oxon. I. 819 A professed unpreaching Epicure and Arminian.
†2. One who gives himself up to sensual pleasure, esp. to eating; a glutton, sybarite.
1565in Strype Ann. Ref. I. xlv. 498 He marvelled why Feckenham should call him epicure [because he did not fast]. 1575T. Rogers Sec. Coming Christ 12/2 Least happely by possessing much they..fal into ryotousnesse, and so become Epicures. 1605Shakes. Macb. v. iii. 8 Then fly, false Thanes, And mingle with the English Epicures. 1675Traherne Chr. Ethics App. 573 An epicure is for his wine or women or feasts continually. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) I. 270 Nobody was less of an epicure than Epicurus himself. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) V. 154 The poultry kind may be considered as sensual epicures, solely governed by their appetites.
3. (The current sense.) One who cultivates a refined taste for the pleasures of the table; one who is choice and dainty in eating and drinking.
1586T. B. tr. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589) I. 210 Let us..forsake the discipline and life of Epicures, and beware that our pallate..be not moore sensible than our hart. a1639W. Whately Prototypes ii. xxxiv. (1646) 165 Such an epicure was Potiphar..to please his tooth and pamper his flesh with delicacies. 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. iii. i. §18 More sweetness in knowledge, than the little Epicure, the Bee, tasts in his choicest flowers. 1756–82J. Warton Ess. Pope II. x. 130 Our author himself was a great Epicure. 1814Scott Wav. xxix, As an epicure protracts, by sipping slowly, the enjoyment of a delicious beverage. 1872Yeats Growth Comm. 61 Lucullus, a more refined epicure.
b. transf.
1670G. H. Hist. Cardinals i. ii. 49 The Cardinals..play the Epicures with Musick as well as Meat. 1798Ferriar Illustr. Sterne ii. 47 This is excellently calculated to excite the appetite of literary epicures. 1823Chalmers Serm. I. 382 Your epicures of feeling who riot in all the luxury of theatrical emotion. 1872O. W. Holmes Poet Breakf.-t. ii. 54, I am afraid I am becoming an epicure in words.
4. attrib. and Comb.
1589Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 70 Democles..spent his time Epicure-like in all kinde of pleasures. 1593Nashe Christ's T. 89 b, Like one of Rome's Epicure Emperors. 1661Pepys Diary 3 May, The exceeding unmannerly and epicure-like palate of Mr. Creed. 1852Dickens Bleak Ho. vi, I have the epicure-like feeling.
▪ II. † ˈepicure, v. Obs. rare.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. To indulge as an epicure; in quot. refl.; also, to epicure it = to play the epicure.
1627–47Feltham Resolves i. xli. 132 It [the body] would complain of loathing and satiety, and so would the soul if it did ever epicure itself in joy. 1655Fuller Hist. Camb. ii. §48 They did Epicure it in daily exceedings. |