a. (sb.) Also 7 somptuarie. [ad. L. sumptuārius, f. sumptus: see SUMPT and -ARY. Cf. F. somptuaire, It., Sp. suntuario, Pg. sumptuario.] Pertaining to or regulating expenditure.
Sumptuary law, a law regulating expenditure, esp. with a view to restraining excess in food, dress, equipage, etc.
1600. E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 9. They made sumptuarie lawes, and epecially vpon victuals.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 262. The prodigious and ridiculous vanity of these Times, (if ever) calling for Sumptuary Laws.
1716. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to C’tess Bristol, 22 Aug. They have sumptuary laws in this town, which distinguish their rank by their dress.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., iv. When Sunday came, it was indeed a day of finery, which all my sumptuary edicts could not restrain.
1850. Merivale, Rom. Emp., xiv. (1865), II. 134. The money-lenders were dissatisfied with the sumptuary reforms which Pompeius had encouraged.
1850. Hawthorne, Scarlet L., ii. Of a splendour … beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xvi. 413. Sumptuary laws, prescribing the minutiae of diet and dress.
1888. Encycl. Brit., XXIV. 642/1. Numerous ancient laws dealt with trade and sumptuary matters.
† b. sb. One responsible for expenditure. Obs.
1789. P. Smyth, trans. Aldrich’s Archit. (1818), 77. The sumptuary, who furnishes the expence of a building.
