† lavishn.
Obsolete.
Profusion, excessive abundance, extravagant outpouring or expenditure; prodigality, lavishness. to make lavish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > [noun]
overflowingnessOE
wastinga1300
prodigality1340
misdispendingc1390
misspendingc1390
fool-largessec1405
wantonness1448
fool-largec1450
dilapidationc1460
lavish1483
consuminga1538
profusion1545
sumptuosity1550
wastefulness1551
lashing1556
lavishing1574
profuseness1584
lavishness1590
misspense1591
wastening1604
outlashing1611
duck and drake1614
largesse1614
lavishment1630
squandering1632
prodigence1634
dissipation1639
wastry1645
profusiveness1655
high living1656
nepotation1656
extravagancy1666
extravagance1727
profligacy1792
squander1806
profligateness1817
wastrife1818
spendthriftism1862
wasterfulness1884
high-rolling1890
prodigalism1896
spendthriftiness1950
squanderbugging1966
the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > [noun]
custeOE
largessea1393
largitionc1475
lavish1483
enlarginga1513
effusion1514
erogation1531
dispense1590
profusion1590
Maundy1595
the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > be liberal [verb (intransitive)]
alargea1425
to make lavish1483
to enlarge the hand1651
shower1667
to push the boat out1920
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 364/2 Ther was no lauas in their speche ne euylle.
1534 R. Whittington tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Tullyes Offyces ii. sig. N.7 The other large lauesse is appropred as to flatterers of the commen people.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke vii. 86 b Dooest thou see this woman..makyng lauasse of hir precious perfumed oynctemente.
1565 T. Stapleton Fortresse of Faith f. 117 They ryot not in lauish, but liue in fasting.
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. F6v If euery brooker would deale thus, their would not so many false knaues bring them such lauish of stollen goods, as they do.
1589 T. Nashe To Students in R. Greene Menaphon Epist. sig. **2 The sweete sacietie of eloquence, which the lauish of our copious Language maie procure.
a1593 C. Marlowe Massacre at Paris (c1600) sig. D6 He loues me..that makes most lauish of his bloud.
1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 11 You shall surely answere and make accowmpte for the lavess and misspendinge of your maysters goods.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
lavishadj.
/ˈlavɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈlævɪʃ/ 1. † b. Of conduct or disposition: Unrestrained, impetuous; loose, wild, licentious. Obsolete.† c. Extravagant or ‘wild’ in speculation. Obsolete.
a. With reference to speech: Unrestrained, effusive; esp. in phrase lavish of (one's) tongue. Now only as contextual use of 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > copiousness > [adjective] > having abundant vocabulary > profuse > effusive
lavish?1485
lavishing1598
fulsome1922
?1485 E. Howard in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 444 They have not ben of that disposicion to be lavas of theyr tvngys whan they had moore cause of booldnes than they have nowe.
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 245/1 [Though many confessors are] in al other thing so light and laues of theyr tong..yet finde we neuer..cause giuen of complaint, through..secretes vttred..by the confessoure.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 114 ‘Trow ȝe’, he said, ‘for ȝour speiking so proude, Or lichtlie langage bayth lawage and loude,..That I dar nocht to my purpois proceid’.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 i. i. 25 Th'excessiue loue I beare vnto your grace, Forbids me to be lauish of my tongue.
a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 415 How do Old men even dote into lavish discourses of the beginning of their lives?
1701 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother ii. ii. 761 I bore his lavish Tongue.
1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the Second 20 But why on Time so lavish is my Song?
1807 G. Crabbe Birth Flattery in Poems 202 The lavish Tongue shall honest Truths impart.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > profligacy, dissoluteness, or debauchery > [adjective]
wild13..
desolatec1386
unthrifty1388
riotousc1405
resolute?a1475
palliard1484
dissolutea1513
royetous1526
sluttishc1555
rakehell1556
dissolutious1560
rakehelly1579
hell-raking1593
sportive1597
low1599
lavish1600
rakellyc1600
profligate1627
profligated1652
rantipole1660
abandoned1690
raking1696
rakish1696
dissipated1744
dissipating1818
outward1875
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [adjective] > rash or reckless > specifically of actions, feelings, etc.
recklessOE
racklec1405
savagec1425
rash1533
hot-brained1556
rashful1567
blindfold1593
lavish1600
wretchless1607
blind1615
hand over head1682
wild goose1770
plunging1798
wild cat1890
(like a) bull at a (five-barred) gate1896
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. iii. 64 When meanes and lauish manners meete together. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) i. ii. 57 Curbing his lauish spirit. View more context for this quotation
1637 J. Milton Comus 16 When lust..By leud, and lavish act of sin Lets in defilement to the inward parts.
1640 F. Quarles Enchyridion iii. 28 If he be given to lavish Company, endeavour to stave him off with lawfull Recreations.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > [adjective] > extreme
extreme1512
high-flyinga1586
lavish1693
ultra1818
ultrageous1823
ultraistic1840
1693 J. Edwards Disc. conc. Old & New-Test. I. vii. 252 If..I have shewed my self arbitrary and lavish, in some of the Derivations.
2.
a. Expending or bestowing without stint or measure; unboundedly liberal or profuse; prodigal. Const. of, in. In early use often: Wasteful, extravagant.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > [adjective]
largea1225
fool-largec1325
costlewa1387
outragea1400
riotousc1405
sumptuousa1425
superfluea1425
prodigatec1429
profuse?a1475
lavishc1475
prodigalc1485
prodiga1492
prodigaleousa1500
superfluous1531
wasteful1538
costly?1555
prodigal1570
overlavish1573
squandering1589
lavishing1598
spenseful1600
expenseful1605
spendthrift1607
spendful1611
dingthrifty1615
impendious1623
expensive1628
unthriftya1631
spendthrifty1642
flush1703
extravagant1711
profligate1718
dispendious1727
wastry1791
wasterful1821
wastrife1822
prodigalish1857
high-rolling1890
wastrel1896
the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > [adjective]
custyeOE
room-handeda1200
largea1225
free?c1225
plenteousc1350
bounteousc1374
liberalc1384
free-hearteda1398
ungnedea1400
royalc1405
opena1425
plentifula1475
profuse?a1475
ungrighta1475
lavishc1475
almifluent1477
prodigous1477
frank1484
bountiful1508
largifluent?a1525
munificent1565
magnificent1577
largeous1583
munifical1583
magnifical1586
free-handed1592
frolic1593
open-handed1593
magnific?1594
prodigal1595
goodwillya1598
communicativea1602
real1602
prodig1605
unniggard1605
generous1615
open-hearteda1617
large-handeda1628
unniggardly1628
fluent1633
profusive1638
numerous1655
largifical1656
insordid1660
unsparing1667
dispensive1677
expensive1678
wasteful1701
flush1703
unboundeda1704
genteel1741
munific1745
magnifique1751
ungrudginga1774
unstinting1845
brickish1860
flaithulach1876
princely1889
outgiving1896
sharing1922
two-handed1929
c1475 Cath. Angl. (Add. MS.) 210 Lavage, prodigus.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. v. sig. H He is so laueis, the stocke begynneth to droope.
1548–67 W. Thomas Ital. Gram. & Dict. Discipatrici, lauage woman, they that will spend out of reason.
1556 N. Grimald tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Duties i. f. 18v Lauisher, than their goods will beare.
1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) xv. f. 187v The lauas earth dooth yeeld you plentiously Most gentle foode, &c.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Nucillus in Panoplie Epist. 240 Lest you be carefull in keeping..or to prodigall and lavash in wasting them.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxv. 167 The liberall harted man is..by the iudgement of the miserable lauish.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iii. ii. 39 Had I so lauish of my presence beene, So common hackneid in the eyes of men. View more context for this quotation
1605 Play Stucley in R. Simpson School of Shakspere (1878) I. 262 I ever fear'd that my courageous brother..would be too lavish of his person.
1643 J. Burroughes Expos. Hosea (1652) ii. vii. 276 You often tell your lavish wasting servants, they will be glad of a crust before they dye.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals vii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 33 Lavish Nature laughs, and strows her Stores around.
1710 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 51 When we are so lavish of our Money upon Trifles.
a1763 W. Shenstone Wks. Verse & Prose (1764) I. 17 The mourner, lavish of his tears.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1784 II. 548 [Johnson:] I have not been lavish of useless letters.
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller I. 113 His bounty was lavish and open-handed.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. iv. 97 In this respect Nature is sparing of her highest, and lavish of her less, beauty.
1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. iv. 169 The people thus formed..were..the most lavish in gifts to holy places.
b. Expended, bestowed, or produced in unstinted profusion; profuse, abundant.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > [adjective] > profuse, luxurious, or lush
ranka1325
exuberanta1513
profuse1542
lavish1576
profused1608
redundant1621
luxuriant1625
luxurious1644
lush1851
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. Argt. 220 He writeth to Dionysius..and alies, to leave off their lavash cheare and delicates.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) ii. ii. 24 Let her haue needfull, but not lauish meanes. View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 62 The low'ring Spring, with lavish Rain, Beats down the slender Stem and bearded Grain. View more context for this quotation
1781 H. Croft Young in S. Johnson Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets X. 109 His three Plays all concluded with lavish suicide.
1832 Ld. Tennyson Eleänore in Poems (new ed.) 12 Thou wert nursed in some delicious land Of lavish lights, and floating shades.
1848 W. K. Kelly tr. L. Blanc Hist. Ten Years II. 446 He..received him at Neuilly with lavish marks of regard.
1883–4 E. O'Donovan Story of Merv ii. 26 He wore a silk tunic..with lavish gold embroidery.
3. dialect. Of grass or wheat: Rank, overgrown.
ΚΠ
c1730 Poynter Ms. Gloss. in Notes & Queries 6th Ser. VIII. 45 Lavage, rank.
1842 G. P. R. Pulman Rustic Sketches (1871) 111 The grass is too lavidge.
1844 W. Barnes Poems Rural Life in Dorset Dial. Gloss. Lavish, rank. ‘That wheat is lavish.’
Draft additions 1997
c. Of food, clothing, decoration, etc.: sumptuous, rich, luxurious, extravagant. Also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > [adjective]
rankOE
peacockly?a1425
ruffling1531
garish1545
peacockish1551
peacock-like1576
ostentatious1590
fastuous?1591
flaring1593
flantitanting1596
ostentive1599
ostentative1601
showful1607
flourishable1614
flourishing1616
flaunting1624
ostentous1624
ostentatory1638
swasha1640
fanfaron1670
paradeful1748
ostensible1782
epideictic1790
fandangous1797
flashy1801
affiché1818
show-off1818
splashing1820
flaunty1825
splash-and-dash1830
pretentious1832
flash1836
splashy1836
pretenceful1841
swanky1842
peacocky1844
fantysheeny1847
splurgy1852
cheesy1858
pretensivea1868
duchessy1870
swagger1879
lavish1882
splurging1884
show-offy1890
razzmatazz1900
show-offish1903
whoop-de-do1904
Ritz1908
split-arse1917
swanking1918
ritzy1919
fantoosh1920
knock-me-down1922
showboating1936
showboat1939
hellzapoppin'1945
zazzy1961
glitzy1966
sploshy1966
zhuzhy1968
noncy1989
bling1999
1882 E. O'Donovan Merv Oasis I. iv. 62 He wore a silk tunic..with lavish gold embroidery.
1936 G. Greene in Spectator 26 June 1171/2 For two hours we too had lived on the ‘Queen Mary’..in an atmosphere of immense expenditure, of boat deck sentiment, of decorations lavish if not in the best of taste.
1972 Daily Tel. 5 Apr. 13/5 Susannah York..wore an Ashley blouse and long skirt..to Elizabeth Taylor's lavish..party recently in Budapest.
1974 P. Carey Fat Man in Hist. (1980) 155 We..prepared ourselves lavish midnight snacks.
1992 Antique Dealer Jan. 17/1 The high-ceilinged reception room lined with 85 square yards of amber panelling carved in low relief..and encrusted with rubies and emeralds, was the lavish gift of Frederick I of Prussia to Peter the Great.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
lavishv.
/ˈlavɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈlævɪʃ/ 1. intransitive. To be lavish.† a. To be profuse in expense; to plunge into (excess). Also to lavish it. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > waste of money or extravagance > spend money wastefully or extravagantly [verb (intransitive)]
to lay on load?1562
lavish1567
to bring one's noble to ninepence1568
to lay it ona1593
overspend1857
plunge1876
splash1934
splurge1934
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 105 He, fearing the Female to lauish and to be no sparer of such vittailes as they haue..stenteth the Female.
1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alphabet. Lauish, to spend extraordinarily.
1614 D. Dyke Myst. Selfe-deceiuing xxii. 274 The Scripture saith not the minister may luxuriously lauish it, but onely liue of the altar.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 162 His Father dying soon,..he..lavishes into Excesses not approved of.
b. To be lavish of words; to exaggerate. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > exaggerate [verb (intransitive)] > in speech
to speak over1610
lavish1625
romance1653
overspeaka1656
1625 A. Cooke Pope Joane 69 You lauish when you talke of 400. yeares after. For I haue prooued vnto you alreadie, by the bookes that are yet extant, that it was knowne sooner.
1625 R. Montagu Appello Cæsarem 217 S. Aug. in commending him did not lavish at all, where he saith, that he was..magni nominis [etc.].
a1640 J. Ball Answer to Iohn Can (1642) i. 54 You lavish somewhat when you say without limitation [etc.].
c. Of rain: To pour along in torrents. rare.
ΚΠ
1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd I. iii. iii. 195 The rain came lavishing along as if the windows of heaven were opened.
2. transitive. To bestow, deal out, distribute, or spend profusely and recklessly; also with away, out. Const. in, on or upon, rarely to.
a. with material object. Also, to shed (blood) in profusion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > squander [verb (transitive)]
forspendc893
scatter1154
dispend1303
waste1340
misspendc1390
miswastec1400
consumec1425
waste1474
profund1527
lasha1535
prodige1538
lavish1542
to play away1562
riot1566
embezzle1578
dilapidate1590
squander1593
confound1598
to make ducks and drakes of or withc1600
prodigalize1611
profuse1611
squander1611
paddle1616
bezzle1617
to run out of ——1622
to piss away1628
prodigal1628
decoct1629
to bangle (away)1632
debauch1632
deboise1632
to fribble away1633
to fool out1635
to run outa1640
to fiddle away1667
slattera1681
dissipate1682
to play off1693
duck-and-drake1700
liquidate1702
sparkle away1703
waster1821
befool1861
to frivol away1866
to play (at) duck and drake with1872
to fling away1873
mislive1887
slather1904
mucker1928
profligate1938
peter1956
spaff2002
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > waste of money or extravagance > spend extravagantly [verb (transitive)]
to piss (money, an opportunity, etc.) against the wall1540
lavish1542
melt1607
to piss away1628
unbowel1647
tap1712
sport1785
waster1821
blue1846
spree1859
to frivol away1866
blow1874
bust1878
skittle1883
to blow in1886
burst1892
bang1897
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 135 Those persones, who of a ryottousnesse did prodigally lauesse out and waste their substaunce..vpon cookes, or reuellers [etc.].
1606 No-body & Some-body sig. B3v Helpe vs to lauish our abundant treasures, In masks, sports, reuells, riots, and strange pleasures.
1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xlvi. 6 They lauish gold out of the bagge. View more context for this quotation
1650 W. Brough Sacred Princ. 363 Shall all be Lavished away, that should be so laid out?
1692 J. Washington tr. J. Milton Def. People Eng. xii. 229 That he might..lavish out in one House, the Riches and Wealth..of three Nations.
1713 J. Addison Cato ii. i We lavish'd at our deaths the blood of thousands.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 245 Money, which she lavished out in a most profuse vanity.
1786 E. Burke Articles of Charge against W. Hastings in Wks. (1842) II. 143 That excessive salaries and emoluments..have been lavished by the said Warren Hastings to sundry individuals.
1796 Accurate & Impartial Narr. Campaigns 1793–4 (ed. 3) I. i. ix. 92 'Twas a pity brave men should be lavish'd away.
1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 156 The children..lavish all their holyday money in toys.
1851 D. G. Mitchell Fresh Gleanings 129 The savings of the week are lavished upon the indulgences of Sunday.
b. with immaterial object.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > abundance > make abundant [verb (transitive)] > bestow (words, pity, etc.) abundantly
lavisha1586
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. K3v But I haue lauished out too many wordes of this play matter.
1621 F. Quarles Hadassa v. E 3 b Each Virgin keepes her turne, and all the night They lewdly lauish in the Kings delight.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre ii. xxxiv. 89 Pity it is that any pity should be lavished upon them.
1653 tr. S. Przypkowski Dissertatio de Pace iv. 19 Is it credible that he will lavish out so excellent gifts..on men depraved with so many errors.
1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada i. i. i. 6 Every life You lavish thus, in this intestine strife.
a1704 T. Brown Declam. Praise Poverty (rev. ed.) in Wks. (1730) I. 100 Lavishing your favours.
1763 W. Harris in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) (Camden) 401 His good nature..was lavished away on those who had least pretence to his favour.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. ii. 37 To see her lavish some kind looks upon my unfortunate son.
1845 R. Ford Hand-bk. Travellers in Spain I. i. 50 [Nature] lavishes..her fairest charms where most unseen.
1856 H. Rogers Ess. II. viii. 368 No end of controversy has been lavished on the philosopher's precise view.
1861 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. (1869) 2nd Ser. 400 The blind force of instinctive life..Plato treats with none of the admiration lavished on it by Mr. Carlyle.
Derivatives
ˈlavisher n. one who lavishes.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > [noun] > squanderer or prodigal
waster1352
spender1393
fool-large?c1425
neve1440
stroyc1440
strawer1460
scapethrifta1500
prodigal son (also daughter, child)1508
nephew1532
scatterer1535
stroy-good1540
prodigal1547
spend-all1553
dingthrift1566
stroy-all1573
scattergood1577
slip-thrift1579
waste-good1585
slide-thrifta1591
spendthrift1601
unthrifta1602
prodiga1605
spend-good1605
wastethrift1608
prodigal1609
lavisher1611
squanderer1611
decoctor1615
profuser1616
extravagant1745
dissipater1799
wastrel1887
squander-bug1943
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Gaspilleur, a spend-all,..lauisher.
a1620 M. Fotherby Atheomastix (1622) ii. i. §8. 189 God is not a Lauisher, but a Dispenser of his blessings.
1634 M. Sandys Prudence 209 Let those Lavishers then, that made the Covetous their Voyders, Live so thriftily, as to pay their debts in their life time.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1483
adj.c1475v.1542