lav·ish

[lav-ish]
adjective
1.
expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion: lavish spending.
2.
using or giving in great amounts; prodigal (often followed by of ): lavish of his time; lavish of affection.
verb (used with object)
3.
to expend or give in great amounts or without limit: to lavish gifts on a person.

Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English lavas profusion (noun), profuse (adj.) < Middle French lavasse downpour of rain, derivative of laver to wash < Latin lavāre

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


1, 2. unstinted, extravagant, wasteful, improvident; generous, openhanded. 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. 3. heap, pour; waste, squander, dissipate.


1, 2. niggardly.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
lavish (ˈlævɪʃ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  prolific, abundant, or profuse
2.  generous; unstinting; liberal
3.  extravagant; prodigal; wasteful: lavish expenditure
 
vb
4.  (tr) to give, expend, or apply abundantly, generously, or in profusion
 
[C15: adj use of lavas profusion, from Old French lavasse torrent, from Latin lavāre to wash]
 
'lavisher
 
n
 
'lavishly
 
adv
 
'lavishment
 
n
 
'lavishness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

lavish
mid-15c., from M.Fr. lavasse (n.), from O.Fr. lavache "torrent (of rain), deluge," from laver "to wash," from L. lavare "to wash" (see lave). The verb is first recorded 1540s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
He never indulges in needless extravagance of rhetoric, lavish epithets,
  profuse imagery.
They fly in a private jet, have a personal physician on staff and maintain
  multiple lavish residences.
Unfortunately, my family cannot afford to go on such lavish trips.
Its prominence has had much to with the global dominance of its culture, the
  allure of its labour market and its lavish bursaries.
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