epicure · noun — A person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink. It carries an Arena rating of 1767, earned across 57 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, epicure ranks #274 of 17,145 for Most Storied Words, #821 of 17,162 for Most Elegant Words, #1,106 of 17,161 for Most Beautiful Words, #1,125 of 17,188 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
epicure is pronounced /ˈɛpɪkjʊə/.
Why “epicure” is a great word
EPICURE — [Noun] A person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink, distinguished by discriminating and refined taste. From Epicurus, the name of an Ancient Greek philosopher (c. 341–270 BCE) whose philosophy was later popularly associated with the refined pursuit of pleasure. Unlike a gourmand, which implies a hearty, often excessive appetite, or a gastronome, which suggests a scholarly, systematic expertise, the epicure is a voluptuary of the calibrated sensation. It is the deliberate selection of a single, perfect peach; the patient decanting of a wine to capture its fleeting peak; the silent, contemplative savoring of a dish where each component is distinct and harmonious. Here, pleasure is not indulgence, but a quiet discipline against the vulgar.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From Epicurus, the name of an Ancient Greek philosopher who advocated such a lifestyle.
noun
- A person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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