[f. EXTRAVAGANT: see -ANCY.]
† 1. A wandering beyond bounds or out of one’s course; vagrancy; an instance of this. Obs.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. i. 12. My determinate voyage is meere extrauagancie.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 224. I will lead you through no more extrauagancies, lest your entreated patience turne into exoticke passion.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, I. Pref. (1671), 16. For recollecting of the Thoughts, and hindering them from extravagancy.
2. The quality or fact of being EXTRAVAGANT (in senses 5, 6): † a. Abnormal or unusual character, eccentricity; impropriety, unbecomingness (obs.). b. The quality of exceeding the bounds of decorum, taste or probability; in later use, flagrant excess, outrageousness. Now somewhat rare; cf. EXTRAVAGANCE 2.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. viii. 33. In Sonnets, Epigrams … the Fancy must be more eminent; because they please for the Extravagancy.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xviii. 62. With the like extravagancy he answered to many other questions.
1690. Child, Disc. Trade (ed. 4), 76. For the bettering of trade, and pareing off the extravagancy of the Law.
1697. Vanbrugh, Prov. Wife, III. i. 30. Were it not for the extravagancy of the Example, I should e’en tear out these wicked Eyes with my own Fingers.
1720. Welton, Suffer. Son of God, II. xiv. 362–3. Touch’d with the Extravagancy … of The Jewish Nation.
3. = EXTRAVAGANCE 3.
1625. Bp. Mountagu, App. Cæsar., II. xix. 248. Popish extravagancies.
1662. Gerbier, Princ., 17. The causes of many Deformities and Extravagancies in Buildings.
1671. R. Bohun, Disc. Wind, 64. The Peruvian [mountains], and some others which may be reckon’d as the Extravagancys of Nature … overlook the Clouds.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., III. lx. 295. Numberless were the extravagancies which broke out among the people.
1833. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss. (1852), 491. Luther was betrayed into … extravagancies by an assurance of his personal inspiration.
1838. Whewell, in Todhunter, Whewell’s Writings (1876), II. 273. Landor’s extravagancies of expression.
† 4. = EXTRAVAGANCE 4. Obs.
1666. G. Alsop, Charac. Maryland (1866), 36. Natures extravagancy of a superabounding plenty.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), I. xlii. 324. All your extravagancies have been supported gratis.
1750. G. Hughes, Barbados, 110. I have always thought it the Height of Extravagancy and Luxury to fell so stately a Tree.
1822. Eliza Nathan, Langreath, I. 19. Whenever he wanted money to pursue his extravagancies.
