lavish

Definitions

From Old French lavasse, 'a downpour of rain,' from lavāre ('to wash'). The image is rain pouring down without limit. English reshaped it into lavish: pouring out money, praise, or care without restraint.

Why It Means This

Lavish carries a hidden weather metaphor. It began as a word for a sudden, heavy rainstorm — water poured from the sky all at once. That sense of unrestrained pouring transferred from rain to spending: a lavish banquet pours out food, lavish praise pours out compliments. When you 'lavish gifts on someone,' you rain them down.

Common Collocations

• 1.lavish lifestyle奢华的生活方式
• 2.lavish praise极力称赞
• 3.a lavish party奢华的派对
• 4.lavish gifts贵重的礼物
• 5.lavish attention on向……倾注关注

Example Sentences

• 1.

  They threw a lavish party with champagne and live music.

• 2.

  Critics were lavish in their praise of her debut novel.

• 3.

  He lavished gifts and attention on his new girlfriend.

Synonym Comparison