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lavish

 - 3 dictionary results

lav⋅ish

  [lav-ish]
Use lavish in a Sentence
–adjective
1. expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion: lavish spending.
2. using or giving in great amounts; prodigal (often fol. 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 ME lavas profusion (n.), profuse (adj.) < MF lavasse downpour of rain, deriv. of laver to wash < L lavāre

Related forms:
lav⋅ish⋅er, noun
lav⋅ish⋅ly, adverb
lav⋅ish⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
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.

Antonyms:
1, 2. niggardly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To lavish
lav·ish   (lāv'ĭsh)   
adj.  

  1. Characterized by or produced with extravagance and profusion: a lavish buffet. See Synonyms at profuse.

  2. Immoderate in giving or bestowing; unstinting: The critics were lavish with their praise.

tr.v.   lav·ished, lav·ish·ing, lav·ish·es
To give or bestow in abundance; shower: lavished attention on his customers.

[Middle English laves, probably from Old French lavasse, downpour, from laver, to wash, from Latin lavāre; see lave.]
lav'ish·er n., lav'ish·ly adv., lav'ish·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

lavish  (adj.)
1469, 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 1542.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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