surfeit

[sur-fit]

noun

1. excess; an excessive amount.

   a surfeit of speechmaking.

   Synonyms: superfluity, superabundance
   Antonyms: lack

2. excess or overindulgence in eating or drinking.

3. an uncomfortably full or crapulous feeling due to excessive eating or drinking.

4. general disgust caused by excess or satiety.

verb (used with object)

1. to bring to a state of surfeit by excess of food or drink.

   Synonyms: gorge, stuff

2. to supply with anything to excess or satiety; satiate.

   Synonyms: fill, gorge, stuff

verb (used without object)

1. to eat or drink to excess.

2. to suffer from the effects of overindulgence in eating or drinking.

3. to indulge to excess in anything.

surfeit

/ ˈsɜːfɪt /

noun

1. (usually foll by of) an excessive or immoderate amount

2. overindulgence, esp in eating or drinking

3. disgust, nausea, etc, caused by such overindulgence

verb

1. (tr) to supply or feed excessively; satiate

2. archaic,  (intr) to eat, drink, or be supplied to excess

3. obsolete,  (intr) to feel uncomfortable as a consequence of overindulgence

Other Word Forms

• unsurfeited adjective
• unsurfeiting adjective
• surfeiter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of surfeit¹

1250–1300; (noun) Middle English sorfete, surfait < Middle French surfait, surfet (noun use of past participle of surfaire to overdo), equivalent to sur- sur- ¹ + fait < Latin factus, past participle of facere to do ( fact ); (v.) sorfeten, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of surfeit¹

C13: from French surfait, from surfaire to overdo, from _sur- ¹ + faire, from Latin facere to do

Example Sentences

Crude prices have fallen from $75 a barrel a year ago, and a projected surfeit next year could send them lower.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Thin characterizations, bland acting and a surfeit of bubbly cuteness combine to make a throw-pillow of a movie: It’s soft and decorative without being particularly useful or interesting.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The beauty industry is currently in a protracted slump that’s been attributed to everything from post-pandemic skincare fatigue to a surfeit of choice that makes brand loyalty a thing of the past.

Read more on Salon

Producers resorted to filling ocean tankers with the sudden surfeit, and it took about a year for prices to climb back.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In fact, the reviewer found Whale "the liveliest natural new personality to turn up on TV for ages", saying he possessed "a surfeit of punch and charisma".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• glut 
• plethora 
• profusion