The Greek philosopher Epicurus evolved a code of life and behavior which stressed the avoidance of pain, but his name has since been used as an adjective to describe those who actively seek pleasure (particularly, for some reason, through eating). Not every idler is a pleasure-seeker, and vice versa; in fact, many idlers are quite ascetic. However, the history of idleness would be woefully incomplete were great Epicurean idlers like Dr. Johnson, Oscar Wilde, and Lin Yutang left out, hence the inclusion in this glossary of those words used to describe pleasure-seekers. See: LUXURIOUS, SYBARITE, VOLUPTÉ.
a believer in pleasure as the highest good.
a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink)
of Epicurus or epicureanism; "Epicurean philosophy"
devoted to pleasure; "a hedonic thrill"; "lives of unending hedonistic delight"; "epicurean pleasures"
furnishing gratification of the senses; "an epicurean banquet"; "enjoyed a luxurious suite with a crystal chandelier and thick oriental rugs"; "Lucullus spent the remainder of his days in voluptuous magnificence"; "a chinchilla robe of sybaritic lavishness"
given to the pursuit of pleasure or to the attainment of sensuous gratification.
Of the philosophy of Epicurus (341-270 B.C.), a Greek philosopher who taught that the goal of man should be a life of calm pleasure regulated by morality, temperance, serenity, and cultural development.
