sumptuous, a.
(ˈsʌm(p)tjuːəs)
Also 5 somptuouse, 5–6 sumptuouse, 6 somptious, sumpte(u)ous, -uus, suumptuus, 6–7 sumptious, sumtuous, 7 sumtuose, sumtious.
[a. OF. somptueux, sumptueux = Pr. sumptuos, It. sontuoso, Sp. suntuoso, Pg. sumptuoso, ad. L. sumptuōsus, f. sumptu-s expense, f. sūmĕre to take, consume, spend.]
1. Of buildings, apparel, repasts, and the like: Made or produced at great cost; costly and (hence) magnificent in workmanship, construction, decoration, etc.
| 1485 Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 15 The feste whyche was moste sumptuous and noble. 1490 ― Eneydos xxii. 80 [He] made it [sc. the sacraire] to be welle ornated.. & crowned..with crownes of golde..& of other somptuouse thynges. 1515 Barclay Egloges iv. (1570) C v/1 No bed of state, of rayment sumptuous. 1532–3 Act 24 Hen. VIII, c. 13 §1 The..excesse..used in the sumptuous and costly araye and apparell. 1549 Compl. Scot. xvii. 145 No sumpteous clethyng of fine claytht. 1550 T. Hoby Trav. 57 A sumptious aqueduct, with dyverse other antiquities. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia iii. xxii. (1912) 483 To builde a sumptuous monument for her sister. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. vii. 106 Is my Apparrell sumptuous to behold? 1639 S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 61 One of the sumptuosest parts of his Pallace. 1671 Milton P.R. iv. 114 Thir sumptuous gluttonies, and gorgeous feasts. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 45 ¶1 A fine Lady dressed in the most sumptuous Habit. 1721 New Gen. Atlas 120 Here is also a sumptuous Foundery for Cannon. 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 181 He sees..No costly lord the sumptuous banquet deal To make him loath his vegetable meal. 1824 Dibdin Libr. Comp. 767 He assumes a yet more majestic aspect in the three sumptuous folios. 1879 S. C. Bartlett Egypt to Pal. iv. 68 In death their greatness followed them to their sumptuous tombs. |
| advb. a 1721 Prior Colin's Mistakes v. Wks. 1907 II. 81 With Pearl and Jewels was she sumptuous deckt. |
b. of conditions, functions, etc.
| 1590 H. R. Defiance to Fortune L 2, He sommoneth his nobles and estates, commanding them to be ready to accompanie him..in the most sumtuous sort they might. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xv. §3 The sumptuous statelines of houses built vnto Gods glory. 1611 Coryat Crudities 88 It is celebrated with very pompous and sumptuous solemnity. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 108 ¶5 The Gentleman..had the Pleasure of seeing the huge Jack..served up..in a most sumptuous Manner. 1839 Hallam Lit. Eur. II. 256 That stately and sumptuous architecture which distinguishes this period. 1841 James Corse de Leon xv, She was dressed in the most sumptuous mode of the Court. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xx, His father had received a sumptuous Cæsarean funeral. |
c. Of natural objects: Splendid or magnificent in appearance.
| 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 7 This..face of heauen so sumptuous to behold. 1598 Drayton Heroic. Ep. xx. 88 In beautie sumptuous, as the Northerne waine. 1809 W. Irving Knickerb. ii. iv. (1849) 105 The sumptuous prospect of rich unsettled country. 1847 Tennyson Princess iv. 134 She spoke and turn'd her sumptuous head. |
† 2. Of charges, expenses, etc.: Involving a great outlay of money.
Obs.| 1485 York Memo. Bk. (Surtees) I. 186 Ther povertie and sumptuouse charges which they dud bere. 1533 Elyot Cast. Helth (1541) 43 Provision agaynste vayne and sumptuous expenses of the meane people. 1541 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) VI. 139, I will that no sumptuous coste..be mayde at my buriall. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 384 The trade of merchandise, except it bee sumptuous and costly [etc.]. 1616 R. C. Times' Whistle ii. (1871) 22 The..Mausolian monument,..Whose sumptuous cost..Noe poet..is able to dilate. |
† b. Costly or expensive to practise or maintain. Chiefly
Sc. Obs.| 1551–2 Reg. Privy Council Scot. Ser. i. I. 119 The samyn is sumptuous to his Majesty and nocht necessar to be kepit now. 1608 Topsell Serpents 76 No creature is so profitable, none lesse sumptuous [than the bee]. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj., Forme of Proces 112 b, The Lords hes abrogat that langsome, tedious, and sumptuous forme of proces. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 114 This tributary, tedious, and sumptuous peregrination. |
† 3. Of persons, etc.: Spending largely; (hence) magnificent in equipment or way of living.
Obs.| 1538 Starkey England (1878) 96 Thoughe you found a faute before in the yl byldyng of our cytes..yet, me semyth, gentylmen and the nobylyte are in that behalfe ouer sumptuouse. 1555 Eden Decades iii. vii. (Arb.) 166 The sumptuous queene Cleopatra. 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. (1625) 26 Plaine are their habites for the most part, and nothing sumptuous. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. iii. xlii. 294 The bishops..were sumptuous in their fare and apparell. 1671 Milton Samson 1072 When first I saw The sumptuous Dalila floating this way. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) I. 89 The accession of this sumptuous prince brought along with it the establishment of the arts. 1781 Cowper Truth 59 The peacock, see—Mark what a sumptuous Pharisee is he! |