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Webster 1913 Edition


Profuse

Pro-fuse′

,
Adj.
[L.
profusus
, p. p. of
profundere
to pour forth or out;
pro
forward, forth +
fundere
to pour: cf. F.
profus
. See
Fuse
to melt.]
1.
Pouring forth with fullness or exuberance; bountiful; exceedingly liberal; giving without stint;
as, a
profuse
government;
profuse
hospitality.
A green, shady bank,
profuse
of flowers.
Milton.
2.
Superabundant; excessive; prodigal; lavish;
as,
profuse
expenditure
.
Profuse ornament.”
Kames.
Syn. – Lavish; exuberant; bountiful; prodigal; extravagant.
Profuse
,
Lavish
,
Prodigal
. Profuse denotes pouring out (as money, etc.) with great fullness or freeness; as, profuse in his expenditures, thanks, promises, etc. Lavish is stronger, implying unnecessary or wasteful excess; as, lavish of his bounties, favors, praises, etc. Prodigal is stronger still, denoting unmeasured or reckless profusion; as, prodigal of one’s strength, life, or blood, to secure some object.
Dryden.

Pro-fuse′

,
Verb.
T.
To pour out; to give or spend liberally; to lavish; to squander.
[Obs.]
Chapman.

Webster 1828 Edition


Profuse

PROFU'SE

,
Adj.
[L.profusus, profundo, to pour out; pro and fundo.]
1.
Lavish; liberal to excess; prodigal; as a profuse government; a profuse administration. Henry the eighth, a profuse king, dissipated the treasures which the parsimony of his father had amassed. A man's friends are generally too profuse of praise, and his enemies too sparing.
2.
Extravagant; lavish; as profuse expenditures.
3.
Overabounding; exuberant.
On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers--
O liberty! thou goddess heavenly bright,
Profuse of bliss--
Profuse ornament in painting, architecture or gardening, as well as in dress or in language, shows a mean or corrupted taste.

PROFU'SE

,
Verb.
T.
s as z. To pour out. [Little used.]
1.
To squander. [Little used.]

Definition 2024


profuse

profuse

English

Adjective

profuse (comparative more profuse, superlative most profuse)

  1. In great quantity or abundance.
    She grew profuse amounts of zucchini and pumpkins.
    profuse hospitality; profuse apologies; profuse expenditure
    • Milton
      a green, shady bank, profuse of flowers

Translations

Verb

profuse (third-person singular simple present profuses, present participle profusing, simple past and past participle profused)

  1. (obsolete) To pour out; to give or spend liberally; to lavish; to squander.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Chapman to this entry?)

Italian

Verb

profuse

  1. third-person singular past historic of profondere

profuse f

  1. plural of profuso

Latin

Adjective

profūse

  1. vocative masculine singular of profūsus

References