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sumptuary

[ suhmp-choo-er-ee ]

adjective

  1. pertaining to, dealing with, or regulating expense or expenditure.
  2. intended to regulate personal habits on moral or religious grounds.


sumptuary

/ ˈsʌmptjʊərɪ /

adjective

  1. relating to or controlling expenditure or extravagance
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sumptuary1

1590–1600; < Latin sūmptuārius, equivalent to sūmptu ( s ) spending, expense ( sūm ( ere ) to take, procure ( consume ) + intrusive -p- + -tus suffix of v. action) + -ārius -ary
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sumptuary1

C17: from Latin sumptuārius concerning expense, from sumptus expense, from sūmere to spend
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Example Sentences

And it was possible to be accused of witchcraft for breaking the Puritanical sumptuary laws and “sadd colors” dress code.

Later in history, the use of the rare and expensive color purple was restricted by Roman sumptuary laws, which penalized ostentatious clothing and jewelry.

Black took on an air of cultured urbanity beginning in the Renaissance, when so-called sumptuary laws limited the wearing of rich colors like red and purple to the aristocracy.

“It’s like there’s a new sumptuary law against introspection.”

“It’s like there’s a sumptuary law against introspection.”

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