Sumptuary definition

sŭmpcho͝o-ĕrē
Legally regulating expenditures considered extravagant.
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Legally prohibiting or discouraging, as by the imposition of taxes, certain behaviors.

Sumptuary laws forbidding gambling.

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Of or regulating expenses or expenditures; specif., seeking to regulate extravagance on religious or moral grounds.
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Relating to expense; regulating expense or expenditure.
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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.
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Origin of sumptuary

  • 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

  • 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

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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Related articles

Words near sumptuary in the Dictionary