I. -nt adjective
Etymology: Middle English extravagaunt, from Middle French extravagant, from Medieval Latin extravagant-, extravagans, from Latin extra- + vagant-, vagans, present participle of vagari to wander about — more at vagary
1.
a. archaic : wandering away : vagrant
rare extravagant spirits — R.W.Emerson
b. obsolete : spreading or projecting beyond usual limits
c. obsolete : differing greatly : widely divergent
d. obsolete : strange , curious
2.
a. : exceeding the limits of reason or necessity : exceeding proper bounds : going beyond what is justifiable
an extravagant theory
demanding extravagant privileges
usurping extravagant power
making extravagant claims
b.
(1) : almost totally lacking in moderation, balance, and restraint : wildly excessive : going much too far
extravagant generalizations
: intemperate
extravagant praise
extravagant enthusiasm
(2) : extremely and often excessively impetuous and vehement and marked by sudden and abrupt changes
the extravagant language of a lover
(3) : extremely or excessively elaborate, vivid, and showy and colored by startling and often apparently capricious contrasts
a play filled with extravagant dialogue
gazing at the extravagant display of the setting sun
c. : wildly exaggerated often to the point of absurdity : pushed beyond credibility : utterly fantastic
extravagant accusations
extravagant reports of what they had seen
3.
a. : spending or tending to spend much more than necessary : spending lavishly, recklessly, or wastefully : spending improvidently like a spendthrift : prodigal
extravagant in everything she bought
to keep up appearances they became extravagant
b. : pouring forth liberally : very bountiful : exceedingly or excessively generous in giving or spending : profuse
he can be counted on to be extravagant toward the poor
often : excessively effusive or exuberant
without wishing to be extravagant in expressing their admiration
c. : marked by great abundance often to an extreme or excessive degree : most plentiful
a tropical island with extravagant vegetation
4. : extremely and often unreasonably high in price : costing an excessive amount
interested only in extravagant clothes
: exorbitant
extravagant prices
: lavish
an extravagant new musical
Synonyms: see excessive
II. noun
( -s )
archaic : one that is extravagant