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epicure

Etymology and origin of the English word epicure

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈɛpɪkjʊə/ (UK); /ˈɛpɪkjʊɹ/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It comes from Middle English,[2] from Medieval Latin epicurus,[2] from Latin Epicūrus,[2][3][4][5] from Ancient Greek Ἐπίκουρος (Epíkouros), the Athenian philosopher Epicurus (341–270 BCE),[2][3][4] who taught that pleasure, identified with virtue, is the highest good.[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A disciple of Epicurus (about 1384).[3][4][6]

Semantic evolution

The Stoics, who opposed Epicurus, first gave his name a reproachful sense.[4] From 1545 an epicure was one who disbelieved in divine providence and a future life,[6] and from 1565 one given up to sensual pleasure, especially a glutton.[6][4][5] The current sense, one with a refined taste in food and drink, is from 1586;[3][4][6] Barnhart notes that the sense of glutton receded in the late 18th century and survives chiefly in epicurean.[3]

Timeline

  • about 1384 – a disciple of Epicurus.[3][6]
  • 1545 – an unbeliever in providence.[6]
  • 1565 – a sensualist or glutton.[6][5]
  • 1586 – a person of refined taste in food.[3][4][6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person with refined, discriminating taste, especially in food and wine; a connoisseur or gourmet.
  2. (archaic) A person devoted to sensual pleasure and luxury; a sybarite.

Word family

  • epicurism

Usage notes

Merriam-Webster distinguishes epicure, implying fastidious and voluptuous taste, from gourmet, a connoisseur, gourmand, one with a hearty appetite, and gastronome, one who has studied cuisine.[5] Random House lists ascetic as an antonym.[7]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Epicure.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/epicure. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·