Word Finder - sumptuary

definition

Relating to expense; regulating expense or expenditure.

definition

(of a law, regulation, etc.) Intended to restrain or limit the expenditure of citizens in apparel, food, furniture, etc.; to regulate the prices of commodities and the wages of labor; or to forbid or restrict the use of certain articles, as of luxurious apparel.

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.

In the late 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I declared an addition to the "Sumptuary Laws", designed to regulate what people of various classes were allowed to wear.

However, in reality the Sumptuary Laws were very loosely and poorly enforced, and so there were a lot of variations in the styles of the time.

Gondolas are mentioned as far back as 1094, and, prior to a sumptuary edict passed by the great council in the 16th century, making black their compulsory colour, they were very different in appearance from now.

Following the economic tendencies of the time he issued sumptuary laws and encouraged manufactures; while to suppress the rivalry among the towns he established an order of precedence for them.

His feathers might be cut off for breaking a sumptuary law.

The latter part of the third book is taken up with a dissertation upon luxury and the sumptuary laws intended to check it, which is probably a dislocated portion of the second book.

During this century the first sumptuary edict ordered that the dwellings of all high officials and opulent civilians should have tiled roofs and be colored red, the latter injunction being evidently intended to stop the use of logs carrying their bark.

So wealthy did Cracow become at last that Casimir the Great felt it necessary to restrain the luxury of her citizens by sumptuary ordinances.

He at once applied himself to moral and administrative reform; declared against nepotism, introduced economy, abolished sinecures, wiped out the deficit (at the same time reducing rents), closed the gaming-houses, and issued a number of sumptuary ordinances.

The sumptuary laws, which required the barraganas of priests to wear a red border to their dresses, recognized them as a known and tolerated class.

He introduced sumptuary laws; relieved the poor by distributions of bread and meat, proceeded with great severity against informers and embezzlers; began the construction of various public works and buildings; and proclaimed a general amnesty for political crimes.