Lavish, a.
Etymology: [Akin to E. lave to lade out; cf. AS. gelafian to refresh, G. laben.]
1. Expending or bestowing profusely; profuse; prodigal; as, lavish of money; lavish of praise.
2. Superabundant; excessive; as, lavish spirits. Let her have needful, but not lavish, means. Shak.
Syn. -- Profuse; prodigal; wasteful; extravagant; exuberant; immoderate. See Profuse.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Lavish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lavished; p. pr. & vb. n. Lavishing.]
To expend or bestow with profusion; to use with prodigality; to squander; as, to lavish money or praise.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for lavish; he lists it under plentiful.
Where he writes about it:
Lavish and profuse imply a decided excess, oftenest in the ill sense. — from plentiful
We rejoice in abundant resources, and honor generous hospitality; lavish or profuse expenditure suggests extravagance and wastefulness. — from plentiful