Overlavish

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Excessively generous or extravagant in giving, spending, or providing something beyond what is necessary or appropriate
2. Characterized by an extreme and unnecessary level of generosity or luxury that surpasses acceptable limits in expenditure or offerings
3. Exhibiting an abundance in extravagance and generosity that goes much further than what is deemed suitable or required

Etymology: "Overlavish" is a plain formation: the prefix "over-" attached to "lavish." The prefix comes from Old English "ofer," meaning "above, beyond, or excessively," which gives English a long-running way of marking that something has gone past a proper limit, as in "overcook" or "overpaid." "Lavish" itself is the older and more interesting half. It was a noun in Middle English meaning profusion or unrestrained expenditure, and only later became the adjective we use for generous spending. Adding "over-" to "lavish" therefore intensifies an idea that was already about excess. The result describes generosity or extravagance that runs beyond what the situation calls for, so a party might be overlavish with its food, or a gift overlavish for the occasion. The word belongs to the large group of English adjectives built with "over-" on an existing root, and its meaning follows directly from combining the two parts.

Synonyms: extravagant, excessive, lavish, opulent, immoderate

Antonyms: sparing, frugal, moderate, restrained, limited