a. 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. Ibid. (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. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. vii. 106. Is my Apparrell sumptuous to behold?
1639. S. Du Verger, trans. 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. G. P. R. 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., I. 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!
