Etymologically
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luxuriose

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Forms

luxuriōsē (comparative luxuriōsius, superlative luxuriōsissimē)[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin luxuriōsus (“given to excess, luxurious”) + -ē.[1][3][4] De Vaan lists ⟨luxuriōsus⟩ among the derivatives of luxus (“excess”), which he traces, if the etymology is right, to Proto-Italic *lukso- and Proto-Indo-European *lug-so- (“bent”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cato,[6] who in a speech that Gellius preserves warns neve haec laetitia nimis luxuriose eveniat, “lest this rejoicing turn out too unrestrained”.[1][4][2]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense is “without restraint”, and morally “licentiously”: Cicero contrasts living boldly with criminals and licentiously with the dissolute.[1][7] From this it came to mean “sumptuously, extravagantly”: Sallust says a commander had kept his army in luxury and too generously, Nepos has the comparative of feasting, and Seneca contrasts dining frugally with building luxuriously.[1][7] The jurist Paul notes that a woman who lives extravagantly can be barred from managing her property.[1] Augustine has the superlative.[2][4]

In British medieval Latin it meant “immoderately” and, of sexual conduct, “wantonly, licentiously”;[8] Holcot uses it of the prodigal son spending his share in a far country.[8]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of rejoicing without restraint.[1][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of living licentiously.[1][6]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of keeping an army in luxury.[1][6]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca contrasts frugal dining with luxurious building.[1][6]
  • 354–430 AD – Augustine uses the superlative luxuriosissime.[2][6]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Without restraint; licentiously.[1][2][8]
  2. Sumptuously, extravagantly, in luxury.[1][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  3. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
  4. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  8. ^ a b c 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