Sumptuary Definition

sŭmpcho͝o-ĕrē
adjective
Of or regulating expenses or expenditures; specif., seeking to regulate extravagance on religious or moral grounds.
Webster's New World
Legally prohibiting or discouraging, as by the imposition of taxes, certain behaviors.
Sumptuary laws forbidding gambling.
American Heritage

Relating to a law; sumptuary laws or regulations, are those intended to restrain or limit the expenditure of citizens in apparel, food, furniture, etc.; laws which regulate the prices of commodities and the wages of labor; laws which forbid or restrict the use of certain articles, as of luxurious apparel.

Wiktionary

Origin of Sumptuary

  • Latin sumptuarius, from sumptus expense, cost, from sumere, sumptum, "to take", "use", "spend"; sub "under" + emere "to take", "buy": compare with French somptuaire

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin sūmptuārius from sūmptus expense from past participle of sūmere to take, buy em- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Sumptuary Sentence Examples

  • He passed many sumptuary laws, and issued an edict forbidding the over-cultivation of vines to the neglect of corn-growing.

  • The austere simplicity of the ritual which Farel had introduced, and to which Calvin had conformed; the strictness with which the ministers sought to enforce not only the laws of morality, but certain sumptuary regulations respecting the dress and mode of living of the citizens; and their determination in spiritual matters and ecclesiastical ceremonies not to submit to the least dictation from the civil power, led to violent dissensions.

  • Crook sees it as a form of sumptuary legislation.

  • The limitation of the colour-scheme was due to a sumptuary regulation issued by the Government.

  • These sumptuary laws maintained the separation of classes.

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Words Starting With

SSUSUM

Words Ending With

YRYARY

Unscrambles

sumptuary

Words Starting With S and Ending With Y

Starts With S & Ends With YStarts With SU & Ends With YStarts With S & Ends With RY

Word Length

9 Letter Words9 Letter Words Starting With S9 Letter Words Ending With Y