SYNONYMS | EXAMPLES | WORD ORIGIN adjective 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.
verb (used with object) to expend or give in great amounts or without limit: to lavish gifts on a person.
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
Related forms lav·ish·er , noun lav·ish·ly , adverb lav·ish·ness , noun o·ver·lav·ish , adjective o·ver·lav·ish·ly , adverb o·ver·lav·ish·ness , noun un·lav·ish , adjective un·lav·ished , adjective 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.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for lavishly Contemporary Examples of lavishly Wedged between two marble buildings at the lavishly designed Lincoln Center, sits a single white tent.
Leather bonnets that marked the early 19th century gave way to styled hair and lavishly veiled hats of the 20th century.
Both are lavishly illustrated, so your child will enjoy reading them with you.
Democrats are coalescing early around a front-runner who certainly will be lavishly funded, Hillary Clinton.
Not a euphemism for homeliness, mind; the new faces are all lavishly hot.
Historical Examples of lavishly Indeed, they were sumptuously, lavishly , prodigally provided for.
So long as he had it he used it lavishly , thoughtlessly, very often generously.
He changed his meat plate now, and helped him lavishly to tart.
The English government had lavishly distributed signs of authority.
He impairs with one hand the value of what he has so lavishly yielded with the other.
British Dictionary definitions for lavishly adjective prolific, abundant, or profuse
generous; unstinting; liberal
extravagant; prodigal; wasteful lavish expenditure
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verb (tr) to give, expend, or apply abundantly, generously, or in profusion
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Derived Forms lavisher , noun lavishly , adverb lavishment , noun lavishness , noun Word Origin for lavish 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 lavishly v. 1540s, from lavish (adj.). Related: Lavished ; lavishing .
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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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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
