† eˈpicurize, v. Obs.
[f. Epicur-us (or epicure) + -ize; cf. late L. epicūrizāre (5th c.).]
1. intr. To profess or practise the doctrine of Epicurus; esp. to live luxuriously.
| 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. Democr. (1676) 35/2 Let them tyrannize, epicurize, oppress, luxuriate, consume themselves with factions, etc. a 1688 [see epicurizing ppl. a.]. |
2. To play the epicure; to feast daintily or luxuriously. Const.
on. Also
fig.| 1634 Brereton Trav. (1844) 18 The English burgomaister..was also epicurizing at this time, as the day before at Scedam. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. 84 That Fellow..epicurizes upon burning Coals. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. v. 8 These evil Demons therefore did as it were deliciate and epicurize in them. |
| fig. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xvii. 426 Spending them [men's lives] by degrees and epicurizing on their pain. a 1688 T. Flatman tr. Ovid's Ep. Laod. to Prot. 19 My greedy Eyes epicuriz'd on thine. a 1711 Ken Edmund Poet. Wks. 1721 II. 269 He and th' infernal Powers epicuris'd, That Tobroc murder'd was while unbaptis'd. |
Hence
ˈepicuˌrizing vbl. n. and ppl. a.| 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 4 Let it..be interpreted..of their epicurizing, or their sacrificing to the stars. a 1688 Cudworth Serm. 87 (T.) Epicurizing philosophy, Antinomian liberty. |