voluptuary

[vuh-luhp-choo-er-ee]

noun

plural

voluptuaries 

1. a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit and enjoyment of luxury and sensual pleasure.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by preoccupation with luxury and sensual pleasure.

   voluptuary tastes.

voluptuary

/ vəˈlʌptjʊərɪ /

noun

1. a person devoted or addicted to luxury and sensual pleasures

adjective

1. of, relating to, characterized by, or furthering sensual gratification or luxury

Word History and Origins

Origin of voluptuary¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from French voluptuaire, from Late Latin voluptuārius, from Latin “pertaining to (sensual) pleasure,” equivalent to volupt(ās) “pleasure, delight” + -ārius adjective suffix; -ary; for -u- voluptuous

Word History and Origins

Origin of voluptuary¹

C17: from Late Latin voluptuārius delightful, from Latin voluptās pleasure

Example Sentences

But in a sense he remained a cognoscente’s darling until the end — an elegant, inscrutable voluptuary.

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The blasé voluptuary in his livery act was always just a personal amusement, a playful outward expression.

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Colman won last year’s best-actress Oscar for her portrayal of another British monarch in “The Favourite,” the eccentric and voluptuary Queen Anne, but Elizabeth, aloof to the point of refrigeration, is a different proposition altogether.

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There is a price for its voluptuary nature: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is demanding of water and food, pest-prone, and difficult to overwinter indoors.

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The movie’s Colette is never as wild as you might hope for a literary titan and voluptuary who first writes herself into history with her “Claudine” novels while bedding men and women alike.

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