sumptuous
English
WOTD – 14 May 2012
Etymology
From French somptueux, from Latin sumptuōsus, from sūmptus (“cost, charge, expense”), perfect passive participle of sūmō, sūmere (“take”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsʌmpt͡ʃuəs/
Audio (AU) (file)
Adjective
sumptuous (comparative more sumptuous, superlative most sumptuous)
- Magnificent, luxurious, splendid.
- 1764, Oliver Goldsmith, The Traveller:
- Though poor the peasant’s hut, his feasts though small,
- He sees his little lot the lot of all;
- Sees no contiguous palace rear its head
- To shame the meanness of his humble shed;
- No costly lord the sumptuous banquet deal
- To make him loathe his vegetable meal;
- 1829, Washington Irving, The Alhambra:
- I wandered on until I came to a sumptuous palace with a garden adorned with fountains and fishponds, and groves and flowers, and orchards laden with delicious fruit.
- 2012 April 21, Jonathan Jurejko, “Newcastle 3-0 Stoke”, in BBC Sport:
- Cabaye pulled all the strings in a dominant home performance and capped a majestic individual display with a sumptuous first-time finish into the far corner for his second goal of the afternoon.
- 1764, Oliver Goldsmith, The Traveller:
Synonyms
- lavish
Derived terms
- sumption
- sumptuary
- sumptuousness
Translations
magnificent, luxurious, splendid
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