Epicurus, the ancient Greek philosopher this word was named after, taught his students that pleasure was a sign of the good, and pain a sign of evil. Thus the "good life" was one filled with pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Over the centuries, epicurean has come to refer to the pursuit of the finer things in life, and the word has a whole host of great synonyms, including luxurious, voluptuous, hedonistic, and, as a noun, bon vivant.

The Greek philosopher, Epicurus, was famous for his prescription for happiness, “pleasure in the absence of pain.” He conducted his discussions in a garden, and was imitated for his sensuous yet relaxed lifestyle. Enjoy your wine, but not too much, or you become ill! We use the Roman spelling of Epicurus’ name; but his Greek name means “companion.” To avoid pain and stress, find a deep thinker like Epicurus as a buddy.