Etymologically
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luxuria

Etymology and origin of the Latin word luxuria

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Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (luxus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɫuːkˈsʊ.ri.a], [ɫʊkˈsʊ.ri.a][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [lukˈsuː.ri.a][1]

Forms

lū̆xuria f (genitive lū̆xuriae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from *luxuros, related to luxus “excess, luxury”, with the suffix -ia, and has a fifth-declension variant luxuriēs.[2][1][3] The TLL says how it is connected with ⟨luxus⟩ is not clear, and Ernout and Meillet compare the suffix with the desiderative ⟨-turiō⟩.[4][1] Gracchus has an old genitive ⟨luxuriī⟩.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation for luxury is from Plautus, luxuriae sūmptūs suppeditāre “to supply the costs of luxury”.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant indulgence in good living, luxury, extravagance, as in Plautus, Terence and Cicero, and of things sumptuousness, as in Ovid.[2] It meant unruly behaviour, as in Livy, and disregard for moral restraint, licentiousness.[2] Of plants it meant rank growth, luxuriance, as in Cicero and Virgil, and in Martial the thriving condition of a flock.[2][6] Döderlein explains that luxus is luxury as an act or condition, while luxuria is always a quality of the person, a love of luxury.[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant luxury, dissipation.[8] Medieval Latin used it chiefly of lust, and British Medieval Latin counted it among the mortal sins.[9][10] Through Old French luxurie “debauchery” it gave English luxury about 1300, first in a sexual sense.[11]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of luxury.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of dissipation.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of luxuriant growth.[6][5]
  • c. 1300 – English luxury is recorded.[11]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Rank growth, luxuriance; plumpness.[2]
  2. Unruly behaviour; licentiousness.[2]
  3. Luxury, extravagance; sumptuousness.[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Lust.[9]

Word family

  • lū̆xuriēs
  • lū̆xuriōsus
  • lū̆xuriō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  10. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  11. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Luxuria.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/luxuria. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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