lavish

WOTD – 14 February 2007    

English

Alternative forms

• lavis, laves, lavas

Etymology

From Middle English *lavish (adjective), equivalent to lave (“to pour out”) +‎ -ish. More at lave, -ish.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈlævɪʃ/, X-SAMPA: /"l{vish/

• audio (us)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ævɪʃ

Adjective

lavish (comparative more lavish, superlative most lavish)

1. Expending or bestowing profusely; profuse; prodigal; as, lavish of money; lavish of praise.
2. Superabundant; excessive; as, lavish spirits.
   • 1623, William Shakespeare, Measure, for Measure Act 2 Scene 2

     Let her haue needfull, but not lauish meanes

Synonyms

• (expending profusely): profuse, prodigal, wasteful, extravagant, exuberant, immoderate
• See also Wikisaurus:prodigal

Related terms

• lavy

Translations

profuse

• Finnish: tuhlaavainen (fi), avokätinen (fi)
• German: freigiebig (de)
• Irish: scaoilteach (ga)
• Italian: prodigo (it), profuso (it), generoso (it)

• Maori: tōtōa (mi)
• Polish: hojny m
• Spanish: generoso (es), pródigo (es), dadivoso (es), derrochador (es)
• Swedish: påkostad (sv)

excessive

• Finnish: ylenpalttinen (fi)
• German: überreich
• Italian: eccessivo (it), smodato (it), sovrabbondante (it)

• Polish: nadmierny (pl) m, obfity (pl) m
• Spanish: excesivo (es), incontrolado (es), superabundante (es), sobrado (es)
• Swedish: riklig, flådig (colloquial)

Verb

lavish (third-person singular simple present lavishes, present participle lavishing, simple past and past participle lavished)

1. (transitive) To expend or bestow with profusion; to use with prodigality; to squander; as, to lavish money or praise.

Translations

to expend or bestow with profusion

• Finnish: tuhlata, syytää (rahaa)
• Italian: prodigare, profondere, spendere profusamente
• Maori: tōtōa (mi)
• Polish: obdarowywać

• Spanish: derrochar (es), despilfarrar (es)
• Swedish: slösa (på), kosta (på)

Related terms

• lavisher
• lavishly
• lavishness

Anagrams

• Vishal