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

Derived Forms

• teeˈtotally, adverb
• teeˈtotalism, noun
• teeˈtotaller, noun

Other Words From

• tee·total·ly adverb

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

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

Example Sentences

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg