Costly

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒst.li/

Definitions

  1. Involving significant expense or requiring a high financial outlay | Being of great monetary value or incurring a large price | Necessitating an excessive amount of resources or resulting in notable expenditure
  2. Involving a high expenditure or requiring considerable financial resources
  3. Requiring substantial investment or resulting in significant monetary expense

Etymology: The term "costly" finds its roots in the Old French word "coste," which means "cost" or "expense." This Old French term itself originated from the Latin word "costa," meaning "side" or "rib," which reflects the idea of something that has a significant weight or value attached to it. In this sense, the etymology evokes a physical dimension, suggesting that something costly has a heft that translates into a financial burden, much like the weight of a rib on the side of a body. The entry of "costly" into the English language can be traced back to the late 14th century, during a time when English was undergoing significant transformation due to the influence of Norman French following the Conquest of 1066. The adaptation of "coste" into Middle English as "costli" highlights this linguistic evolution. The transition from a noun to an adjective, as seen in the formation of "costly," encapsulates the process of attributing a characteristic — in this case, the substantial expense associated with something — to a noun. Over the centuries, the meaning of "costly" has remained relatively stable, consistently denoting something that requires a significant expenditure of resources. However, it has also taken on a more abstract connotation, extending beyond mere monetary value to encompass emotional or social costs. This shift illustrates how language can evolve to reflect broader human experiences, allowing the term to apply to intangible burdens as well as tangible expenses. In contemporary usage, "costly" implies not only a high monetary price but also an investment of time, effort, or emotional energy, suggesting a multifaceted understanding of what it means to pay a price for something. This evolution underscores the dynamic nature of language, revealing how a simple term can encapsulate complex ideas about value and sacrifice.

Synonyms: expensive, pricey, high-priced, dear, lavish

Antonyms: cheap, inexpensive, affordable, low-cost, reasonable