luxury English · revision 5801

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1340|origins=la luxuria}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈlʌk.ʃər.i/, US /ˈlʌk.ʃɚ.i/, /ˈlʌɡ.ʒɚ.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English luxurie, [[bor|fro|luxurie|t=debauchery, lust]] (modern French luxure),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|luxuria|t=excess, extravagant living]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|luxus|t=excess, extravagance, magnificence]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) probably a figurative use of luxus “dislocated”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) which is related to luctārī “to wrestle” (see [[reluctance]]).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Lust, lasciviousness: 1340 in the OED and Barnhart, in the ''Ayenbite of Inwyt'',^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) while Etymonline has “sexual intercourse” about 1300.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The English word lost its bad sense in the 17th century,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) though “lust” lasted until the early 19th.^(Cresswell 2021)^(SOED 2002) Habitual indulgence in what is choice or costly is from 1633,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) sumptuous surroundings or food from 1704,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and refined enjoyment from 1715.^(OED 1989) Something that gives pleasure but is not necessary is from 1780, in Bentham.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The attributive use, as in ''luxury hotel'', is from 1916 in Etymonline, 1936 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The OED notes that in Latin and the Romance languages the word still suggests vicious indulgence, the neutral sense being expressed by luxus, French luxe, Spanish lujo and Italian lusso.^(Etymonline) ''Luxurious'' at first meant lustful (before 1300), and self-indulgent from 1606.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1340 – lust.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1633 – indulgence in costly things.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1704 – sumptuous surroundings.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1780 – something not necessary.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1916 – the adjective use.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Great [[comfort]] and expensive living.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something pleasant or expensive that is not a [[necessity]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A pleasure that is rarely had: ''the luxury of a lie-in''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Expensive and of high quality: ''a luxury hotel''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[semiluxury]]

+ * [[superluxury]]

+ * [[luxury box]]

+ * [[luxury tax]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[luxe]]

+ * [[luxuriant]]

+ * [[luxuriate]]

+ * [[luxurious]]

+ * [[deluxe]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD compares luxury with extravagance and frill, all words for something desirable that is not a necessity.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}