lavish
[lav-ish]
- expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion: lavish spending.
- using or giving in great amounts; prodigal (often followed by of): lavish of his time; lavish of affection.
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- to expend or give in great amounts or without limit: to lavish gifts on a person.
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Origin of lavish
1425–75; late Middle English lavas profusion (noun), profuse (adj.) < Middle French lavasse downpour of rain, derivative of laver to wash < Latin lavāre
Synonyms
See more synonyms for lavish on Thesaurus.com1, 2. unstinted, extravagant, wasteful, improvident; generous, openhanded. 3. heap, pour; waste, squander, dissipate.
Synonym study
1, 2. Lavish, prodigal, profuse refer to that which exists in abundance and is poured out copiously. Lavish suggests (sometimes excessive) generosity and openhandedness: lavish hospitality; much too lavish. Prodigal suggests wastefulness, improvidence, and reckless impatience of restraint: a prodigal extravagance. Profuse emphasizes abundance, but may suggest overemotionalism, exaggeration, or the like: profuse thanks, compliments, apologies.
Antonyms
1, 2. niggardly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for lavish
Contemporary Examples
Of course, it could be hard to see that logic through all the lavish weirdness of the proposal.
Lobbyists use these trips to lavish bounty on Congressmen, far from prying eyes.
The Kardashians paid more than $400,000 to rent out the lavish grounds.
The train is lavish in a rich cream color and measures 11.8 feet.
Here Comes the Bride…In Flaming Red: Two Centuries of Colorful Wedding DressesLiza Foreman
May 7, 2014
The lavish parties were part of his cover, and after his arrest by the Egyptians he earned the nickname “the Champagne Spy.”
Historical Examples
In the twenty-three years of his life, every gift that money could lavish had been his.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
Since the death of her father, there had been none on whom she could lavish the great gifts of her tenderness.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
It is an English habit to rail at the lavish expenditure of the French Government.
The Roof of FranceMatilda Betham-Edwards
At this Chaigneux, scenting a loan, collapsed into the most lavish thanks.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
I am begging for a crust from the lavish plenty, all because I am struggling to be honest.
In a Steamer Chair and Other StoriesRobert Barr
lavish
- prolific, abundant, or profuse
- generous; unstinting; liberal
- extravagant; prodigal; wastefullavish expenditure
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- (tr) to give, expend, or apply abundantly, generously, or in profusion
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Word Origin
C15: adj use of lavas profusion, from Old French lavasse torrent, from Latin lavāre to wash
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for lavish
adj.
mid-15c., from Middle French lavasse (n.) "torrent of rain, deluge," from Old French lavache, from laver "to wash," from Latin lavare "to wash" (see lave). Related: Lavishly.
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v.
1540s, from lavish (adj.). Related: Lavished; lavishing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper