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., I. 84. That Fellow … that 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, trans. 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 Epicurizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 4. Let it … be interpreted … of their Epicurizing, or their sacrificing to the S[t]arrs.
1664. Cudworth, Serm., 49 (T.). Epicurizing Philosophy, Antinomian Liberty.
