Also 6–7 epicurisme, 7–8 epicureism. [Two formations: (1) f. Epicūrus, after mod.L. type Epicūrismus; cf. Fr. Épicurisme (perh. the immediate source), It., Sp. Epicurismo. (2) f. EPICURE + -ISM.
As the sb. epicure long continued to be used with distinct consciousness of its connection with the name of the philosopher, the two formations cannot be accurately distinguished exc. in recent examples. The accentuation belongs properly to the second formation (sense 3); in the now rare sense 1 most persons would prob. say epicu·rism (as in Johnson). Bailey (1736) places the accent on 2nd syllable, as app. in Shaks. Lear I. iv. 165; cf. the verse quots. s.v. EPICURIZE. The 17–18th c. epicureism is perh. strictly f. L. epicūrē-us: cf. Ger. epikuräismus.]
1. The philosophical system of Epicurus; doctrines regarded as analogous to that system; attachment to such opinions. Now rare; more commonly EPICUREANISM.
1575. Fulke, Confut. Doctr. Purgatory (1577), 444. Epicureisme and Saduceisme is more common at Rome then Christianitye.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Arrow agst. Atheists (1622), 49. There seemeth small difference betweene Epicurisme, Atheisme, and Mahometisme.
1862. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), VI. liii. 327. They had resigned themselves to Epicurism … or had cultivated Stoicism.
† 2. Practical conformity to the (supposed) principles of Epicurus; the pursuit of pleasure; sensuality. Obs.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 20. Not the notes of Nobilitie, but the marks of Epicurisme, and companions to effeminacie.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. iv. 265. Epicurisme and Lust Make it [our Court] more like a Tauerne, or a Brothell Than a grac’d Pallace.
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc., 138. Nothing but meer Sensuality and Epicurism.
1775. Burke, Corr. (1844), II. 18. This general affection to religion … will make a common cause against Epicurism.
† b. Excess in eating; gluttony. Obs.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, ccxii. (1612), 190. That Epicurisme, which is too much vsed in England, and especially of Merchants … to sit eating … for the space of three or four hours.
1613. Middleton, Triumphs of Truth. First then I banish from this Feast of Joy, All Excesse, Epicurisme, both which destroy The Healths of Soule and Body.
1614. T. Adams, Devil’s Banquet, 291. Poysoning to Italie, Drunkennesse to Germanie, Epicurisme to England.
3. The disposition and habits of an epicure; cultivated taste in the pleasures of the table.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. xi. (1622), 116. Yea, and euen Salomon obserueth the same kind of Epicurisme.
1665. Pepys, Diary (1879), III. 226. Captain Cocke, for whose Epicurisme a dish of partridges was sent for.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 206, ¶ 13. He is venerated by the professors of epicurism, as the only man who understands the niceties of cookery.
1823. Lamb, Elia (1860), 130. The heats of epicurism put out the gentle flame of devotion.
1830. M. Donovan, Dom. Econ., I. 197. The epicurism of consumers of malt liquors.
b. transf. (Cf. EPICURE 3 b.)
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. ii. § 18. But such is the epicurism of modern times to addulce all words to the ear that [etc.].
1661. Pepys, Diary, 23 Sept. I never did pass a night with more epicurism of sleep.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethicks, App. 573. A Vertuous man is … more prone to Celestial Epicurisme, if I may so speak, than all the World besides.
1860. Smiles, Self-Help, x. 272. Much of our reading is but the indulgence of a sort of literary epicurism.
