surfeit English · revision 1098

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɜː.fɪt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsɝː.fɪt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''surfet'', ''surfait'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|surfait|t=excess]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) the past participle of ''surfaire'' “to overdo”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''sur-'' “over” and ''faire'' “to do”, [[der|la|facio|t=to make, do]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[fact]].^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Excess, too much of something (before 1300; before 1325 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 14th century the noun meant immoderate indulgence, especially gluttony in eating and drinking (1338),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the sickness caused by it (1362).^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, disgust caused by excess, is from the 1640s.^(Etymonline) The verb, to indulge to excess, is from the late 14th century,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and to fill or supply to the point of disgust from 1592.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – excess.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1338 – gluttony.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1362 – sickness from overindulgence.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1387 – verb, to indulge to excess.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1592 – verb, to fill to excess.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An excessive amount; an [[excess]] or [[glut]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Overindulgence in food or drink.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The discomfort or disgust caused by such overindulgence; [[satiety]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To feed or supply to excess, to the point of disgust.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To overindulge.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[surfeiter]]

+ * [[unsurfeited]]

+ * [[unsurfeiting]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[forfeit]]

+ * [[counterfeit]]

+ * [[fact]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''superabundance'' and ''superfluity'' as synonyms of the noun, and ''lack'' as its antonym; for the verb it gives ''stuff'', ''gorge'' and ''fill''.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}