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teetotal

[ tee-toht-l, tee-toht-l ]

adjective

  1. of or relating to, advocating, or pledged to total abstinence from intoxicating drink.
  2. Informal. absolute; complete.


verb (used without object)

, tee·to·taled, tee·to·tal·ing or (especially British) tee·to·talled, tee·to·tal·ling.
  1. to practice teetotalism.

teetotal

/ tiːˈtəʊtəl /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or practising abstinence from alcoholic drink
  2. dialect.
    complete
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • teeˈtotalism, noun
  • teeˈtotally, adverb
  • teeˈtotaller, noun
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Other Words From

  • tee·total·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of teetotal1

Reduplicated variant of total, coined by R. Turner, of Preston, England, in 1833, in a speech advocating total abstinence from alcoholic drinks
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Word History and Origins

Origin of teetotal1

C19: allegedly coined in 1833 by Richard Turner, English advocate of total abstinence from alcoholic liquors; probably from total , with emphatic reduplication
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Example Sentences

The teetotal apostle says it is a dreadful thing to be drunk.

They listened to some foolish women's cackle—teetotal cant, I call it—and refused me anything.

But' (regretfully) 'ye'll no' can get it here; an' a'm thinkin' a'll juist sign yon teetotal thing.'

The teetotal attitude of mind and the quarrels it aroused very properly disgusted Kingsley.

My poor wife runs teetotal salons in Chelsea on the strength of my name.

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