different between teetotal vs abstemious

English

Etymology

From total, the reduplicated tee being an intensifier – “T-total”, 1830s.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ti??t??t?l/

Adjective

teetotal (comparative more teetotal, superlative most teetotal)

1. Abstinent from alcohol; never drinking alcohol.

   Synonyms: on the wagon, straightedge

   Antonyms: alcoholic, dipsomaniac, drunkard

2. Opposed to the drinking of alcohol.
3. (dated, emphatic) Total.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• abstain
• temperance

Noun

teetotal (plural teetotals)

1. One who abstains from drinking alcohol.
   • 2004, Andrea Levy, Small Island, London: Review, Chapter Twelve, p. 137,^[1]

     Hubert is trying to persuade James, a strict Presbyterian and teetotal, to come into the pub.

   Synonyms: teetotaler, pioneer

References

English

Etymology

From Latin abst?mius (“abstaining from wine”); from ab, abs (“from”) + t?mus, a root of t?m?tum (“intoxicating drink, especially strong mead or wine”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *temH- (“dark (referring to the colour of wine)”)) +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /æb?sti?.m?.?s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /æb?sti.mi.?s/, /?b-/
• Rhymes: -i?mi?s
• Hyphenation: abs?te?mi?ous

Adjective

abstemious (comparative more abstemious, superlative most abstemious)

1. Refraining from freely consuming food or strong drink; sparing in diet; abstinent, temperate. [From early 17th c.]
2. Sparing in the indulgence of the appetite or passions.
3. Sparingly used; used with temperance or moderation.
4. Marked by, or spent in, abstinence.
5. (rare) Promotive of abstemiousness.

Synonyms

Antonyms

• (sparingly used): immoderate, intemperate
• See also Thesaurus:excessive

Derived terms

• abstemiously
• abstemiousness
• unabstemious

Related terms

Translations

References