expensive English · revision 3952

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1628|origins=la expendere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪkˈspen.sɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|expense|-ive]],^(Etymonline)^(Johnson 1755) or from Latin expēns-, the past participle stem of [[m|la|expendere|t=to pay out]], with -ive, associated early with expense.^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) It is related to [[expend]] and [[spend]].^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of a person, given to lavish expenditure: 1628 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the 1620s in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and about 1610 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Costly, requiring much expenditure”, of a thing, is from 1634.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The older sense, “extravagant”, is now rare,^(OED 1989) but Johnson still gave “given to expense; extravagant; luxurious” first.^(Johnson 1755) At cricket an expensive bowler gives away many runs (1882).^(OED 1989) Earlier there was ''expenseful'' (about 1600), and ''expenseless'' was in use from the mid-17th to the 18th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1600 – ''expenseful''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1628 – lavish, of a person.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1634 – costly, of a thing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1882 – at cricket, of a bowler.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Costing a great deal; [[costly]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Charging high prices: ''expensive shops''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Involving great cost or sacrifice.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[expensively]]

+ * [[expensiveness]]

+ * [[inexpensive]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[expend]]

+ * [[expense]]

+ * [[expenditure]]

+ * [[spend]]

+ * [[pension]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}