1 May 2014

lavish

[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

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

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.

Today’s aphorism

‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

– Alfred Lord Tennyson

On this day

1 May – May Day, a pagan celebration in the Northern Hemisphere to celebrate Spring and which includes crowning the May Queen. Led Zeppelin referenced it in ‘Stairway to Heaven’: ‘if there’s a bustle in your hedge-row don’t be alarmed now, it’s just a spring clean for the May Queen‘.

1 May – International Workers Day, or Labour Day, which includes celebrating the introduction of the 8 hour work day: ’8 hours labour, 8 hours recreation, 8 hours rest’.

1 May 1962 – First KMart store opens in Garden City, Michigan, USA. In 2005, the USA KMart merged with Sears, Roebucks and Company.

1 May 1967 – Elvis Presley marries Priscilla Ann Beaulieu in Las Vegas.